Senators not coming home anytime soon - denying reports of travel (Chicken Run)

Houston Chronicle .com ^ | 8/30/03 | ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA

[Libloather]

Senators not coming home anytime soon
Denying reports of travel, fugitives say they fear arrest
By ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA
Aug. 30, 2003, 12:04AM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Texas Democrats holed up in Albuquerque for more than a month denied a report Friday that some of them were coming home, saying their opponents in a redistricting battle easily could maneuver to arrest them if they did.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus and one of the 11 Democratic senators who fled Texas a month ago, said several senators have left Albuquerque for the Labor Day weekend but none plans to return to Texas.

David Beckwith, a spokesman for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, said Friday that "we have word that some of them are in Texas." The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate, which the Democrats fled to break quorum and prevent action on a congressional redistricting bill favorable to Republicans.

Beckwith refused to say which of the runaway senators were reported to be in Texas.

The Democrats said their fear of hardball tactics increased with revelations that state agents staked out the homes of some South Texas senators earlier this month, thinking they might return to their houses and families as a tropical storm approached.

The 11 senators left Texas on July 28 as Gov. Rick Perry prepared to call a second special legislative session to redraw congressional districts.

Their exodus deprived the Senate of the quorum it needed to consider redistricting or any other legislation. They had to remain out-of-state until the session ended Tuesday, because within state borders they were subject to arrest and forcible return to the Capitol.

The arrest authority expired when the session did, but the Democrats said Perry and as few as six Republican senators could start a third session on short notice and order the arrest of any boycotting senator they found in the state.

The senate has 31 members, and 21 constitute a quorum. If just one of the runaways were forced back during a special session, the chamber would have a quorum and its Republican majority could pass a redistricting bill.

Under Senate rules, if Perry called a special session, it would take only six senators to return to the Capitol and issue a call for the Senate -- one to make the motion and five to second it.

Any senators deliberately breaking quorum at that point would be subject to arrest in Texas.

Beckwith would not say whether Dewhurst would consider that move.

"We're very aware of the Senate rules," Beckwith said. "I can't discuss strategy. I'm not ruling it out, and I'm not ruling it in."

Beckwith confirmed Friday that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Carleton Turner and three aides traveled to South Texas as tropical storm Erika approached in mid-August to see if they could spot any of the missing senators, who by then had kept the Senate shut down for more than two weeks. The storm came ashore in Mexico on Aug. 17, bringing heavy rain but no significant damage or casualties.

"They were surveilling. They were not deputized to make an arrest," Beckwith said.

He refused to discuss the operation in detail. "We don't want to give out any more on how we're going to do it," he said.

State Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo said in Albuquerque on Friday that she was told that two women had her home under surveillance as the storm approached and that Turner and another man were watching the home of Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville. She also said Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa of McAllen told her his home was under surveillance as well.

Beckwith said no government employees are now involved in giving Dewhurst's staff information on where the senators are but that information is coming in, including the reports that some are in Texas or are planning to come.

About half of the senators remained in Albuquerque on Friday.

"We would love to go home, but based on the dirty tricks that have been planned and foiled to date, we simply are leery of what Governor Perry will do if we return," Zaffirini said.

Van de Putte said she is so suspicious of her opponents' intentions that she called the Senate secretary and asked her to ensure that no one was sent to a San Antonio hospital where her son underwent emergency appendix surgery Friday.

She recalled that when state House Democrats boycotted in May to prevent a redistricting vote during the regular legislative session, a Texas Ranger went to a Galveston hospital looking for a Democratic representative whose premature twins were there.

The Senate Democrats say they won't return for a special session unless Dewhurst restores a traditional Senate procedure requiring a two-thirds vote to debate legislation.

With that rule in effect, Democrats blocked redistricting in the first special session earlier this summer. But Dewhurst said the procedure would not be used in the second session, prompting the Democratic boycott.

Democrats are fighting a GOP effort to increase by at least five the number of Republicans in the state's delegation to the U.S. House. Democrats now have a 17-15 edge in the delegation.

In another matter relating to the redistricting fight, state Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a motion Friday opposing a request by the 11 boycotting senators for a federal court order allowing them to return to Texas without fear of arrest.

Abbott contends that a temporary restraining order would encroach on the state's legislative powers.

Villafranca reported from Albuquerque, Ratcliffe from Austin.

[Libloather]

"We would love to go home, but based on the dirty tricks that have been planned and foiled to date..."

What would RATS know about dirty tricks?

[goldstategop]

More Democrat PARANOIA.

[mewzilla]

I'm losing my respect for folks in NM for allowing their state to be used like this.

[Between the Lines]

Van de Putte said she is so suspicious of her opponents' intentions that she called the Senate secretary and asked her to ensure that no one was sent to a San Antonio hospital where her son underwent emergency appendix surgery Friday.

Van de Puta has her priorities all wrong. I don't care what might happen, I would be with my family at a time like this. Family is always first.

[GatekeeperBookman]

The longer they stay OUT, the more we gain. Maybe Pretty Perry & Left-tenant Dewdrop are correct in their avoidance of more dramatic action against them...

Demoncats look worse by the day.

They can't do anything but posture for media.

Folks outside of the normally active political sector are made to look at them ( by the media who seek to promote them ) & see what they really are-fools. This applies OUTSIDE of Texas as much as in!

Maybe they have done us a big fav!

[harpu]

"I'm losing my respect for folks in NM for allowing their state to be used like this."

Duhhhh...they elected Bill Richardson - Governor!

[varon]

I'm losing my respect for folks in NM for allowing their state to be used like this.

Perhaps the TX Rats asked for and were granted political asylum by NM ;-)

[Savage Rider]

"The Senate Democrats say they won't return for a special session unless Dewhurst restores a traditional Senate procedure requiring a two-thirds vote to debate legislation." First, this is not legislation the Senate is considering, so the two-thirds requirement is not binding. Second, in previous redistricting Democrats, who were in control, only required a majority vote to bring the issue to the floor, not a two-thirds vote.

[shiva]

her son underwent emergency appendix surgery Friday.

and she didn't go to the hospital?

[freekitty]

Van de Putte is paranoid. Do you want someone who is paranoid representing you?

[freekitty]

Let them rot in New Mexico. Texas can continue with or without them. They are legends in their own minds.

[freekitty]

If these yellow dims were really doing something for the people, their leaving might matter; but it's just another political maneuver for their own agenda.

[mathluv]

Typical dim - Party first.

[witnesstothefall]

It is heartwarming to see a fugitive acknowledge his status. Now if they just surrender and agree to be arrested peacefully.......

[Libloather]

It is heartwarming to see a fugitive acknowledge his status. Now if they just surrender and agree to be arrested peacefully.......

Once they eventually get back to work and hit the Texas Senate floor - will they be cheered as champions? Don't think so...

[hocndoc]

What kind of mother is Van de Putte?
She lets her son undergo an emergency appendectomy without going home to be with him?
Good grief, when my *brother* got sick (and nearly died), I shut my office and drove to see him.

[hocndoc]

There was a letter to the editor in today's San Antonio Express News. One of Van de Putte's constituents demanded that she come home, saying he voted for her to represent him in Austin, not Albuquerque.

[MeekOneGOP]

What would RATS know about dirty tricks?

Exactly. Fleeing the state and denying their constituents proper representation in the Senate is a 'principled stand'. Yeah, right. I call it an act of Legislative Terrorists. (Better put, they are Terrorist Legislators?) Then, when the ones that REMAINED in the Senate take action granted by the Texas Constitution, the Dirty 'RATS blame the GOP, calling the fines a Poll Tax. Sheesh !!

So, the obstructing actions by the Terrorists prevent me and the MAJORITY of Texans from getting our voices heard and they claim that the MINORITY are not being represented. If they aren't being represented, guess what ? It's because they refuse to participate in the process ...

Just G-r-r-r-r-r-r !!!! ...

And that goes for the media as well as the Terrorists ...

[MeekOneGOP]

And speaking of Poll Tax, check this out (if you haven't already) ...

Article post:

08-15-2003
Texas democrats. Radio interview with
Sen. Rodney Ellis, runaway senator.

This is one of the Texas Chicken D's holed up in Albuquerque, N.M. He calls the fines 'Poll Taxes' and RUDELY hogs the conversation with this radio show host, then HANGS UP on him !!

G-r-r-r-r-r !!

Audio:

Unbelievable Conversation with Senator Rodney Ellis
by Greg Knapp 08-13-2003
You’ve GOT to hear this to believe it ! (13 min., 47 sec)
http://rmeek141.home.comcast.net/GregKnapp-Interview-SenatorRodneyEllis-081303.mp3

[freeangel]

How long before they lose their resident status and are no longer eligible to hold office?