Posted on 07/30/2003 1:12:57 PM PDT by woofie
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Eleven Texas senators say they are prepared to spend 30 days or more at the Albuquerque Pyramid Marriott, where they have been welcomed by Gov. Bill Richardson.
As part of that welcome, Richardson says he will have State Police protect the renegade Democrats.
They fled Austin on Monday hoping to block a Republican plan to redistrict the state's congressional seats. By leaving Texas, they are denying the GOP-dominated Senate a quorum.
But not everyone is happy with the Texans' visit.
Republican Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White wrote a letter to the governor Tuesday protesting the use of state money to protect the Texas Democrats.
"We are diverting our officers to provide a security force for something that is nothing more than a political party battle that doesn't concern New Mexicans," White said.
Richardson said, however, the state has a duty to protect high-profile guests. His office said only one officer has been assigned to the duty and no one is being paid overtime — yet.
He acknowledged that overtime might be needed if the senators make an extended stay.
White said in an interview that any time officers are on the job, taxpayer money is being spent.
"It's been a very violent summer and it's troubling that our precious resources are being used for a political purpose," he said.
In part, State Police are staying close to the lawmakers because of rumors that some Texans could hire private security officers to come looking for them. White suggested the Democrats hire a security force at their own expense for protection.
The senators, who have been holding news briefings for local and national reporters, say they want their Republican counterparts to include them and their constituents in the redistricting process before they will return.
They also accuse the opposition of changing procedural rules to benefit them for a special session called Monday by Gov. Rick Perry to deal with redistricting.
Republicans hope to control more of Texas' 32 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, where Democrats have a 17-15 majority.
At a news conference inside the hotel Tuesday, Richardson had a message for Texas Republicans, including U.S. House Majority Floor Leader Tom DeLay, who the fleeing lawmakers say is part of the remapping effort.
"I think he should back off," the governor said.
Poised in front of a Texas flag, Richardson said the Republicans should "put redistricting on the back burner and deal with issues affecting people, like health care and education."
Outside the hotel, Tom Childress, a Texan who moved to Albuquerque a few days ago, protested the senators who split.
"The people who elected these Democrats didn't expect them to run away. They expected them to do their job," he said.
The Texas battle could have ramifications in New Mexico.
"The probability of it (redistricting) happening here increases if they do it (in Texas)," said Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero, an Albuquerque Democrat. "I think if Texas does it, people will look at it differently here."
New Mexico's redistricting following the 2000 Census was decided in the courts, and New Mexico Democrats unsuccessfully tried to revive the issue in this year's legislative session.
While it's the Republicans who are behind the effort to redraw Texas' districts, New Mexico House Speaker Ben Lujan and other Democratic leaders have said they would consider reopening the issue here if Texas Republicans prevail.
Richardson could put redistricting before New Mexico lawmakers at a special session this fall, but he said he's reluctant to do so.
"I am personally opposed to a redistricting session ... but I will leave the door slightly open because I am concerned about Republican efforts in Texas, in Colorado and in other parts of the country to disenfranchise voters," he said.
Journal staff writer Jeff Jones contributed to this report.
There will be republican money pouring into the districts in question. Over and over again voters will be reminded that their rep chose to run away rather than vote on (choose a topic), etc.
While the dems are away, things can be talked about, things that the dems say are important to them.
"I am personally opposed to a redistricting session ... but I will leave the door slightly open because I am concerned about Republican efforts in Texas, in Colorado and in other parts of the country to disenfranchise voters," he said.
I'm with you. The most frightening is the ratcheting up of Richardson's visibility nationwide. The Demos have big plans for him.
The media's conventional wisdom is that W. is dumb. Regardless of whether he is dumb or not, one thing he is not is a failure -- a description that fits Richardson to at "T."
Have you been to NM lately? If you have, you'll know why I disagree with that statement.
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