Self-imposed exile proving costly for 11

ASSOCIATED PRESS (Reported in the Austin American Statesman) ^ | Wednesday, August 27, 2003 | By Lisa Falkenberg

[Arrowhead1952]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin passes up lunch at the Hilton for a $6 chili dog with sauerkraut. Sen. Eliot Shapleigh has asked his El Paso law partners to take on his clients. And Sen. Leticia Van de Putte took out a loan on her life insurance policy to make up for lost wages.

In their 30 days of self-imposed exile, the 11 Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a vote on congressional redistricting have found their own ways of bearing the mounting costs of their political battle.

Van de Putte, a San Antonio pharmacist and chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, has estimated that the Democrats' stay at hotels in New Mexico will cost each senator about $5,000.

Van de Putte and Democratic aides said the total cost of hotel rooms, conference rooms, Internet service and other costs is at least $100,000. They estimate legal expenses of $300,000.

"But that's a small price to pay, a very small price to pay, for the objective that we're standing up for," Sen. Royce West of Dallas said.

The lawmakers also face fines of more than $50,000 each from the Senate, which ordered the fines to be paid from the absent lawmakers' personal funds.

"It doesn't cost the taxpayers one penny for us to be here," Van de Putte said. "However, it costs the taxpayers $1.7 million every time Governor Perry decides to call a special session. And we would hope he would use that on the real crisis in our state, which is public school finance."

Republicans argue that it's the Democrats who are wasting the state's money. They say Perry wouldn't have to keep calling special sessions if the Democrats would just come home and vote.

"The cost of all three special sessions should be placed at the feet of the Democrats who ran away and broke quorum rather than stay at work and represent their constituents," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's spokesman Dave Beckwith said.

[goldstategop]

The 11 Chicken Little D's are delusional. Nothing would give me more satisfaction than to see the lot of them go flat broke - and so would most Texans.

[camle]

we should help them - let's send them some cheese - they already seem to have enough whine...

[WorkingClassFilth]

Go TEXAS TEAM! Smash RED STATE!

What is the situation in terms of public sentiment, Texas FReepers?

[goldstategop]

62% of Texans have turned thumbs down on the 11 Chicken Little Ds.

[Guillermo]

the real crisis in our state, which is public school finance."

Of course. Even if we spent $100 million per child, it would still be a crisis . And the people would believe it.

[goldstategop]

They're staying in a fancy hotel in Albuquerque to help the chirrun, of course. <sarcasm

[Dudoight]

From what I read in the papers, the majority of Texans don't approve of the fleeing Dems. But, in the same survey, a small majority feel the redistricting issue should be dropped. It seems only fair to me that since the dems have been able to redistrict on their watch, the repubs should have their turn now.

[maica]

I saw the short, stout female spokesman for this goup being interviewed a few days ago. She was saying that they 'owe it to their constituents' to keep up this fight. From her words it would appear that she only recognizes persons of 'minority' classification as constituents. She made me wonder how Texans who happen to be white (or maybe Asian heritage) feel about living in any of the legislative districts of these 11.

Talk about racist remarks! These 'minority' legislators definitely believe in a two-tiered society. They see no obligation, whatsoever, to any person in their district who is not 'a minority.'

[hardhead]

The true test will come at election time - will that same 62% turn thumbs down to another term?

[Destructor]

The Dimocrats are throwing a temper tantrum just like a bunch of 2-year-olds! Dimocrats ran Texas for just over 100 years, and drew up the districts to insure that their candidates had an advantage. Now the Republicans are in power, and the Dimocrats are getting a dose of their own medicine- and they don't like it! If it weren't for the fact that this tantrum is costing so much tax money it sure would be fun to watch!!

[writmeister]

But, in the same survey, a small majority feel the redistricting issue should be dropped. It seems only fair to me that since the dems have been able to redistrict on their watch, the repubs should have their turn now.

And further in that same poll (but underreported by the media), the same small majority shifts in favor of redistricting when the person taking the poll learns that the Dems blocked redistricting in the regular session.

[Texan5]

I beg to differ with Van de Puke-the real crisis in education is that people like her let the school districts rob us blind with property taxes, and we get an excuse of an education for our kids in return. And even though we sent ours to private school, we still had to pay...

[Arrowhead1952]

The Dimocrats are throwing a temper tantrum just like a bunch of 2-year-olds! Dimocrats ran Texas for just over 100 years, and drew up the districts to insure that their candidates had an advantage.

What is really funny, is the fact the RATs say the Republican drawn districts have "Unfair" minority representation. If anyone with a fair mind looked at the current or past districts created by the RATs, you would wonder how in the world those could be called fair. Those maps have such lopsided lines and shapes, there is no way anything but minority voters control the district. That is the ONLY WAY the RATs stayed in as reps or senators in DC.

[Destructor]

That's right! The Dimocrats know it too!

[sticker]

If anyone believes that these clowns are paying the cost of this BS is dumber than the normal democRAT base. The entire cost of this is going to be paid by the DNC, either directly or by arranging a fundraiser(where the funds are already arranged, but it looks better this way).

[WilliamofCarmichael]

True!

Dems are addicted to OPM. They DO NOT spend their own money.

[mewzilla]

"It doesn't cost the taxpayers one penny for us to be here," Van de Putte said.

But redistricting wasn't the only item on the legislative agenda that the Ds have put on hold, was it?

[mathluv]

"It doesn't cost the taxpayers one penny for us to be here," Van de Putte said. "However, it costs the taxpayers $1.7 million every time Governor Perry decides to call a special session.

Is she so ignorant that she does not SEE a connection?

[mathluv]

Are you talking about her interview with Bob Sellers on The Big Story? I was amazed at her statement. I loved Bob's comeback about her 'minority' constituents. He said "Do you mean democrats?"