Democrat sneaks back to Houston, calls for end of senators' boycott

Houston Chronicle ^ | 9/2/2003 | R.G. RATCLIFFE

[truthandlife]

Sen. John Whitmire said today he secretly spent the last five days in Houston, and that it is time for his fellow Democratic senators to end their boycott over congressional redistricting.

"After being in my district for five days, I have concluded my constituents are opposed to redistricting, but they also believe the fight should be on the Senate floor," the Houston legislator said.

"I am returning to New Mexico to keep my commitment to the Texas 11. I will discuss with my colleagues that we need an exit plan, and we need it now."

Whitmire did not say where he stayed while in Houston, or whom he saw.

Gov. Rick Perry also today indicated the timing of a third special session on redistricting will depend on how quickly one or more of the Democratic senators return to Texas from New Mexico.

"That will be their call when they come back to the state, and we can have a quorum," Perry said.

Whitmire was among 11 Texas Democrats who bolted for Albuquerque, N.M., on July 28 to break the Senate quorum to kill a Republican plan for congressional redistricting during two special legislative sessions.

Whitmire set off a firestorm among the self-exiled Democrats last week by saying that he planned to return to Houston for the Labor Day holiday.

That led to Democratic caucus Chair Sen. Leticia Van de Putte to declare loudly behind a closed door that Whitmire was betraying the group. Van de Putte said Whitmire agreed to stay in New Mexico and planned to spend the weekend in Santa Fe.

Even though the second special session ended on Aug. 26, the Democratic senators feared that Perry would quickly call another session if any of them returned to Texas. Once a session were called, any six senators could put a call on the Senate, and order that colleagues in Texas be arrested and forced to the Capitol if they did not come voluntarily.

The return of one of the New Mexico Democrats would give the Republicans a quorum in the Senate and the ability to pass the redistricting bill.

Whitmire, in a statement, said he did not abandon the group.

"I returned as I had always planned -- not a bolt from the group, but a planned return after sine die (the official adjournment of the Legislature) on Tuesday, August 26," Whitmire said.

He said he got up at 3 a.m. Thursday and caught a 7 a.m. flight to Houston, arriving about 10 a.m.

[Steely Tom]

The press will be all over this, just you wait.

</ sarcasm>

(steely)

[kayak]

fyi

[corkoman]

Never underestimate the sneakiness...

[Dog Gone]

Too bad we didn't catch him while he was here.

On the other hand, he's going back to tell them that it's over, and it would be better politically for them to cave in than for us to win by force.

[goldstategop]

Agreed. All it takes is ONE or TWO Democratic Senators to bolt and the show's over. If your enemy is in the process of destroying himself, the last thing you want is to finish the job for him. The 11 Chicken Little D's are gradually falling apart.

[TexasNative2000]

Van de Putte does get my vote on one count - I would certainly choose Santa Fe over Houston for a long weekend vacation.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I guess the polls that showed the Chicken Ds were stupid to do this were accurate.

[Dog Gone]

I'm wondering whether he got a free pass on his trip in exchange for his agreement to tell the Rats that the party's over. Of course, nobody will ever admit that.

[xJones]

Whitmire, in a statement, said he did not abandon the group.

Abandon? Of course not. Houston is right next door to Albuquerque, he just went out to the local 7-ll. It took him a few days to return.

[VRWC_minion]

I think we did win by force. How much time do they want to spend away from home ?

[Libertina]

but they also believe the fight should be on the Senate floor," the Houston legislator said
Oh, big shockeroo. Sneakin' lyin' democRATS.

[witnesstothefall]

If Whitemire's tale is true, I'll bet good money the press knew, and kept it secret. Five days! Five days during which the media was well aware fissures had formed in the group.

Either they kept it quiet or they didn't want to know.

[Conservababe]

Looks like the little chickens did not get the press and appreciation from their constituents...and are now bored with it all. LOL

[SwinneySwitch]

The AP had it last Wednesday!

Category: Associated Press : Texas Wire

Senator exiled in New Mexico frustrated by a lack of
end game

By LISA FALKENBERG (Associated Press Writer)
The Associated Press

Web Posted : 08/27/2003 8:49 PM

[.cnI redruM]

It's nice to see he's dained the State of Texas worthy of his august presence once more. To what do we owe such an honor? His pole numbers hitting Gray Davis levels? Nah, his sense of personal integrity.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I don't know. How long do they have to be away before the Senate can declare that they are no longer residents of the district to which they were elected and vacate their seats?

[lilylangtree]

Congressional doors should be permanently closed to these cowards who are a disgrace to the people and the great state of TX.

[Allegra]

All right, that does it.

SEAL THE STATE BORDERS!

:-)

[pogo101]

I would certainly choose Santa Fe over Houston

"Yeah, but it's a DRY 120 degrees." :)