Posted on 08/06/2003 5:59:05 PM PDT by Libloather
Senate Democrats in New Mexico missing home
By NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer
Aug. 6, 2003, 9:43AM
Away from home, her children and husband, the maternal emotions in Sen. Leticia Van de Putte kicked in recently.
The Senate Democratic Caucus chairwoman was in Albuquerque, where she and 10 other Democrats are staying in their boycott of the Texas Senate, when she learned that her 21-year-old son, Henry, on Saturday announced his plans to join the lay ministry, the first step in becoming a priest.
"It was pretty emotional for me ... I'm not there for this incredibly momentous occasion in my son's life," said Van de Putte, a mother of six. "The mommy in me, you know, is guilty because I wasn't there at the time."
Other senators have missed important family birthdays, time with new babies and the hospitalization of parents. They aren't at home because they decided to boycott the Texas Senate in protest of plans to take up congressional redistricting, a move that has been criticized by Republicans.
The Democrats have been staying at a Marriott hotel for more than a week. Their absence has forced a standstill in the Senate and frustrated Republicans eager to pass a redistricting bill that likely would give them a majority in the congressional delegation dominated 17-15 now by Democrats.
The Democrats' self-imposed exile has not drawn sympathies from Republicans, who last week sent them a care package containing diapers, baby rattles and pacifiers.
"We hope that these behavior-appropriate items make the Democrats a little more comfortable while they are AWOL from their elected duties," Texas GOP chairwoman Susan Weddington said of the package.
Republicans Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate, has accused the Democrats, outnumbered in the Texas Senate 19-12, of breaking the Texas Constitution by blocking a quorum.
He warned Tuesday that he may turn to legal action to force them to return to Texas.
Addressing the senators from Austin, Dewhurst said: "If you don't come back in a timely fashion, we're going to be forced to look at other options, including legal options. And don't put us into that position."
The Democrats say their boycott is protecting their constituents, who they say could be hurt if redistricting plans previously before the Legislature become law.
During a legislative session, lawmakers frequently are away from home for several months, although they typically get their weekends free. But because the Democrats broke quorum in the Senate chamber, Dewhurst said he would instruct the Senate sergeant-at-arms to compel the lawmakers to return to the Senate if they are found in Texas. The Democrats do not want to risk that chance and say they are staying put.
Asked if the boycott is worth it, even though she missed her son's announcement, Van de Putte said yes.
"They understand why I am doing this, what I'm doing and they're incredibly supportive," Van de Putte said.
Sen. Rodney Ellis has a newborn daughter at his Houston home. Two of his other children joined him over the weekend in Albuquerque and he admits the Marriott hotel they are staying in is nice.
"But I assure you there's nothing like getting in my own bed at my own house with my new daughter and my family being near," Ellis said.
Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville said his mother and father were hospitalized while he was here. His mother had pneumonia and his father was diagnosed as having stones in his gallbladder.
"It worries me more than anything," Lucio said.
Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston has a new grandson and several senators have missed family birthdays. Sen. Royce West's son turned 19 while West was in Albuquerque, Gallegos' mother had a birthday and Ellis' grandfather celebrated his 82nd birthday on Tuesday.
Dewhurst has stepped up his rhetoric in the past few days and has been urging the Democrats to come home and do their job.
On Tuesday, he thanked the Republican senators and the lone Democrat who remain in the chamber for making it to the Capitol, telling them: "I appreciate you're being away from your families and showing up for work."
Perry defends 1993 GOP walkout
Associated Press
Aug. 6, 2003, 5:12PM
AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry today defended a 1993 Republican quorum bust to block a judicial redistricting resolution, but continued to criticize 11 runaway Democrats still holed up in a New Mexico hotel in an effort to stop a congressional redistricting measure.
"They need to find a better argument than that," Perry said, referring to the 10-year-old quorum bust in which 11 Republicans -- then the minority in Texas politics -- countered a racially tinged judicial redistricting resolution by going into a closed-door session at the same time the Senate was set to convene and vote on the measure.
Then-Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock announced that the Senate could not convene because no quorum was present. Only two of the 13 Republican senators were on the floor. The sound of buzzing emerged from the chamber, in a reference to the 1979 "Killer Bees" rebellion.
The walkout only lasted a day. To date, no such legislation has passed.
"The length of time here is what is the difference," Perry said. "If the lieutenant governor in 1993 had decided he wanted those senators back ... they would have been regrouped, brought in."
Texas Democratic Party Chairwoman Molly Beth Malcolm said the 1993 walkout underlines the validity and legality of the 11 Democratic senators who last week fled to Albuquerque to block congressional redistricting legislation in the Texas Legislature.
"They need to tell the people of Texas why they are attacking the Democratic senators for something their own senators did 10 years ago," Malcolm said.
But, Malcolm said the current leadership could learn a lesson from Bullock, who "respected the strong views of the GOP senators and ended the redistricting effort."
The Senate walkout is the second this year by Democrats in the Legislature. In May, more than 50 House Democrats left for four days to kill a redistricting bill in the regular session.
What - chillin' out near the pool isn't good enough?
Photos taken from the Texas Senators of the 78th Legislature website.
The 11 Obstructors:
Gonzalo Barrientos, Austin/Rodney Ellis, Houston/Mario Gallegos Jr., Houston
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, McAllen/Eddie Lucio Jr., Brownsville/Frank Madla Jr., San Antonio
Eliot Shapleigh, El Paso/Leticia Van de Putte, San Antonio/Royce West, Dallas
John Whitmire, Houston/Judith Zaffirini, Laredo
The Lone Democrat that is staying:
Kenneth Armbrister, Victoria
Here they are with costumes on:
Surely these ‘RATS are not true Texans??
Issue a letter to each accepting their resignation.
I wonder what this guy would do if one of his parents died? Have the body shipped to NM to be buried? Man, talk about putting politics above all else- but I shouldn't be surprised, since these are Democrats, after all.
Typical Chronicle Blather. Every tear the Dems shed is legit, but every word that the Pubs say is rhetoric.
Will that work? I don't know, but it's no laughing matter to be held in contempt of court. It certainly raises the pressure on them to return.
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