Posted on 08/09/2003 7:59:55 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Absent Democrats sharpen rhetoric against Perry, Dewhurst Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Democrats boycotting the Texas Senate over congressional redistricting lashed out against the state's Republican leadership Friday who have gone to the Texas Supreme Court to try to compel the Democrats back to the Capitol.
The court action by Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Thursday "signals another hostile act in an escalating war on the constitutional rights of Hispanics and African Americans in the state of Texas," said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso.
Dewhurst has said the Democrats gave him no other option.
"We cannot in good conscience stand here when there is work to be done and not be able to do the job we were elected to do when our 11 colleagues are effectively thumbing their nose at the process," Dewhurst said this week as he announced the filing of a "writ of mandamus" that asks the court to determine the 11 absent senators are acting contrary to their duties and seeks their return to Austin.
The 11 Democrats have been staying at an Albu querque hotel since last week when they fled the Capitol to break a quorum in the Texas Senate. Their move has halted work in the 31-member Texas Senate. Two-thirds of senators must be present for lawmakers to take up business.
If they stay out of the Capitol until the special session on redistricting ends later this month, they will have defeated congressional redistricting efforts to give the Texas GOP a majority in the congressional delegation. Right now, Democrats have a 17-15 advantage.
Democrats say congressional redistricting maps that have been before the Legislature this year would disenfranchise minorities.
Perry and Dewhurst's court action seeks to have the senators returned.
Before Dewhurst and Perry filed their action Thursday, the 11 Democrats filed a lawsuit that asked that state officials or their deputies be prohibited from arresting the Democrats should they return to the state. They also challenged Perry's authority to call a special legislative session on redistricting.
The Texas attorney general's office on Friday responded to that lawsuit by stating in court documents that twice in three months state lawmakers, frustrated by the will of the majority, have decided to circumvent the legislative pro cess by fleeing of state.
The lawsuit contends the Texas Constitution does not allow this option.
"Senators may vote as they please; they may speak as they please; but they must show up," the court filing states.
The Democrats had been aiming most of their attacks at Perry, who has called two special sessions on redistricting, but in recent days the Democrats have stepped up their attacks on Dewhurst.
"I've said this before that Lt. Gov. Dewhurst is abusing his power. Now he's abusing the truth," said Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen.
Dewhurst spokesman Dave Beckwith shot back: "The truth hurts."
Hinojosa made his comments about remarks Dewhurst made the previous day about the Democrats' treatment of two Republican senators who visited the Democrats this week.
The Democrats said they treated Sen. Robert Duncan of Lubbock and Sen. Todd Staples of Palestine with courtesy but Dewhurst said the Democrats didn't show the Republicans the respect they deserved.
Hinojosa contended that the meeting with Staples and Duncan was a "set up."
"They were sent here not in good faith," Hinojosa said. "It's pretty obvious that they were already planning to file a lawsuit against us."
Beckwith said it was his understanding that if the Democrats had shown they were serious about reaching a resolution, there would have been no need for court action.
The Democrats had requested a Monday meeting with the Republicans but said the Republican's response came in the form of a "writ of mandamus."
"They want us to meet them in the Supreme Court in the state of Texas," said Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas. "We don't plan on being there but our attorneys will be there."
Dewhurst told Staples and Duncan that they were welcome to return to Albuquerque for another meeting with the Democrats if they thought it would do any good but the general consensus after the first meeting was it would be a waste of time, Beckwith said.
The Democrats planned to work with their attorneys this weekend to put together a response to the Republicans Supreme Court filing, which is due at noon Monday.
Shapleigh said the Democrats who are lawyers do not understand how the state Supreme Court could insert itself in what is "clear Senate turf." But, he said they had concerns because the case was brought by two Republicans and the Supreme Court is made up of nine Republican justices.
"That does concern us," Shapleigh said.
Meeting with such believers in "democracy" is always a waste of time. Democrats expect the Republicans to accede to all their demands. They are like Hitler at Munich. Let's hope the GOP doesn't cave. However, I don't know if the Supreme Court will even hear this case. And I don't think the Albuquerque "Democrats" would follow the Supreme Court if it ruled against them.
I meant the national press. I lived in Houston from 1992-2002, so I am sure the Chronicle is treating it just as you say.
If it were Republicans doing this, it would be on the national news every day.
The truth is that the Republicans are "David" and they are attemping to put one in the eye of the Media "Goliath". So far all the news stories I've seen , heard or read fail to mention past Dem gerrymandering. Most of the ignorant masses seem to think this is something shady and even unconstitutional that the Republicans are trying to do in an effort to throw future elections. The media are flat out lying in an effort to suppress the majority.
I'm about ready to start calling advertisers and tell them I can no longer use their products or services because they are supporting this attempted brainwashing!
Dewhurst spokesman Dave Beckwith shot back: "The truth hurts."
Amazing any polititian with a "D" attached to his/her name can define the word truth. After 8 years of clintoon lying, truth to them apparently is whatever the dems want it to mean. I agree with spokesman Dave Beckwith's answer.
That is the only reason there is still a dumbocrat party. Only idiots and liars vote for them. That party is full of the treasonous SOBs.
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