Some senators raise possibility of returning for difficult filibuster
10:19 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 3, 2003
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Democrats who fled Texas to block efforts to boost Republican power in Congress said Wednesday that they intend to fight on, despite a defection that could hand the GOP a legislative victory on redistricting.
"We are undeterred," said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso.
"We will take this fight to any arena, at any place, at any time to protect voting rights ... and our constituents," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, the leader of the Senate Democrats who have been in self-imposed exile since July 28 to thwart action on a congressional map. "Make no mistake about that and our resolve."
The Democrats who remained in Albuquerque said they are resigned to the likelihood that Gov. Rick Perry will call a third special session on redistricting and their Democratic colleague John Whitmire, who returned to Houston on Tuesday, will provide the Senate quorum needed to pass the GOP's map.
But some said that in such an event, they probably would rush back to Austin and try to block a bill with a filibuster.
"Obviously, we'd make an attempt to go back and at least have our voices heard," said Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston. "But to filibuster for 30 days, that's a tough one."
In Austin, meanwhile, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Republican senators and Sen. Kenneth Armbrister of Victoria, the only Democrat who did not flee to Albuquerque, huddled to discuss two possible congressional maps so they'll be ready for the next special session.
One of the proposals was similar to a map that was approved by a Senate committee this summer. The second, according to Mr. Dewhurst, includes lines that would leave current minority congressional districts largely untouched while clearing the way for the state's congressional delegation "to reflect the recent voting trends of Texas."
Mr. Dewhurst said the latter plan would give the GOP 19 to 20 of the state's 32 congressional seats. The current split is 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans.
Mr. Perry has not tipped his hand on when he might call another special session. Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, is in Minnesota on a fishing trip, and the governor may wait until after the Sept. 13 election, when state voters will decide the fate of 22 constitutional amendments, including a tort-reform measure GOP leaders are backing.
Rebuke and ridicule
Democratic senators who continued the boycott on Wednesday castigated Mr. Whitmire as a quitter who has moved Republicans closer to a big victory that could affect national policy for decades by giving them more power in Congress.
Several Democrats ridiculed Mr. Whitmire at a news conference.
"We've had enough of powerful, special interests, and we've had enough of puppets and liars," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.
Mr. Shapleigh alluded to Democrats' suspicion that Mr. Whitmire stands to gain personally or politically from his move.
"I have no doubt that he will be rewarded upon his return to Austin by those whom he serves," Mr. Shapleigh said.
In Houston, Mr. Whitmire said that although he understands his fellow Democrats are disappointed, "I believe that there's still mutual respect there."
Mr. Whitmire spent the day answering phone calls from constituents and reporters, insisting he has no plans to leave Texas again to thwart redistricting.
"The people of my Senate district are generally opposed to redistricting, but they also believe I should go to the Senate floor and fight," he said.
But he said he has not decided what he will do when the session is convened. "I'm keeping all my options open," he said.
"At the same time, I would like to help reach a solution to the impasse," he said. "If that happens, we need to start the process that will in all likelihood be ultimately resolved in the courts."
Responding to news that he plans to travel to Austin on Friday and may ask to meet with Mr. Dewhurst, Mr. Whitmire's Democratic colleagues in New Mexico stressed that he does not hold their proxy.
"John Whitmire does not represent our group," said Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas.
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Molly Beth Malcolm on Thursday called on Mr. Whitmire to rejoin his Democratic colleagues until the GOP drops its redistricting push. And the Texas AFL-CIO and another pro-Democratic group, SaveTexasReps.com, mounted e-mail campaigns in an attempt to persuade Mr. Whitmire to rejoin the Democrats.
On DC front
Meanwhile, Ms. Van de Putte and Mr. Shapleigh flew to Washington, D.C., where they will be joined by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, for a Thursday news conference hosted by MoveOn.org, the Internet fund-raising group that says it has raised more than $1 million in the three weeks from 32,744 donors to promote the Democrats' case against redistricting.
On Tuesday, MoveOn.org began airing radio ads on Texas stations that reach Hispanic and African-American audiences.
"Hispanic Texans would lose representation under the immoral, Perry-Dewhurst congressional redistricting plan," the Spanish-language spot says.
One aimed at black listeners urges them to call Mr. Perry and "tell him no more special sessions. Tell him to be a man and stand up to Tom DeLay," the U.S. House's GOP leader from Sugar Land who has lobbied hard for a new Texas map.
Ms. Van de Putte said the boycotting senators must take their case to a national audience to persuade President Bush to stop his party's push for redistricting.
"He's trying to play both hands," Ms. Van de Putte said of Mr. Bush. "He's reaching out to Latinos and yet [Bush political strategist] Karl Rove is trying to disenfranchise millions of Latino voters. Does ... [Mr. Bush] think we're stupid?"
Bush press secretary Scott McClellan declined to answer questions about whether the president would object if GOP congressional leaders tried to expel Texas Democrats from the U.S. House to pressure state Democratic lawmakers to end their boycott.
"Very nice try to try to draw us into a Texas state legislative matter," Mr. McClellan said. While Mr. Bush "is always concerned about Texas," redistricting "is a matter for the state of Texas," Mr. McClellan said.
Staff writers Terrence Stutz and Wayne Slater in Austin and G. Robert Hillman in Washington contributed to this story.
E-mail rtgarrett@dallasnews.com.
