(Texas) Third special session delayed by protesters

KHOU ^ | September 15, 2003 | KHOU noon news

[Flyer]

Texas senate adjourns due to rowdy anti-redistricting protesters

During KHOU's noon newscast they talked with a reporter via phone in Austin. He described the Senate chambers being cleared of protestors by DPS troopers. The session is adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.

[Flyer]

Here we go. . .

[Flyer]

Redistricting *PING!*

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

---

[Richard Kimball]

Don't worry. This is just the death throes of the b*stards who aren't the majority anymore.

[Dog Gone]

I'll bet there was nothing spontaneous about these "demonstrations."

[Flyer]

Third special session delayed by protesters

12:50 PM CDT on Monday, September 15, 2003


By Jason Whitely / 11 News



AUSTIN -- With a Senate quorum in place, Texas lawmakers converged on the Capitol as a third special session on congressional redistricting began Monday.

Minutes after the Texas Senate dropped the gavel on the third special session, a gallery of redistricting opponents erupted. More than a dozen DPS officers were called to the senate chambers to quiet the gallery and begin removing people. The senate then chose to adjourn for the day and reconvene Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Senate aides tell 11 News that the Republican leadership did not want to conduct business with a rowdy gallery crowed with Democratic supporters.

At the noon hour, the senate gallery on the third floor of the state capitol was packed with hundreds of redistricing opponents. Members of the Texas 10 spoke to them and to more than a dozen television cameras gathered in the chamber. At this hour, it's unclear what change will be made when the senate reconvenes at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. John Whitmire of Houston arrived on the Senate floor about five minutes before the session started, chatting with smiling Republican lawmakers.

His arrival gave Republicans the quorum they need to push a GOP-leaning redistricting plan.

The other 10 Democrats, who boycotted the Senate for the previous 30-day legislative session, arrived to cheers from supporters in the gallery. The 10 joined hands and stood on the floor as the cheers erupted around them.

The new session is the latest round in a bitter fight over the composition of Texas' delegation to the U.S. Capitol.

At issue is the shape of the state's congressional map. Currently, Democrats have a 17-15 majority in Texas' congressional delegation. The GOP's redistricting plan could give Republicans as many as 21 seats.

States normally redraw districts once a decade following the U.S. Census. But when the Texas Legislature couldn't agree on a plan, a federal court implemented its own for Texas in 2001.

The GOP maintains the Legislature needs to draw the congressional districts to reflect voter approval of Republican control at the state level. Democrats argue the GOP plan would hurt minority representation in Congress, and they want to keep the existing districts.

The efforts to address redistricting in the Legislature have already failed three times this year, even though Republicans now hold a majority in both chambers.

http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou030915_jt_protest.ac667c.html

[Flyer]

The KHOU reporter on the phone said they arrived in buses from Dallas and San Antonio.

[TexasNative2000]

First the 9th Circuit Court decision, now this. What a day.

My patience is wearing thin. . . . . .

[antivenom]

HMMMM...let the "constiuents" become the "disruptors"...makes it easy for the Chicken D's to continue their games...

[Puppage]

Texas Senate Adjourns Due To Rowdy Anti-redistricting Protesters

If ya can't solve it by RUNNING AWAY, just WRECK it with protestors.

[mathluv]

Of course, they were bussed in just like the disrupters at the hearings around the state. Those of us who support redistricting are at work!

[Flyer]

for the Chicken D's to continue their games

I would guess their intention is to jump and holler tomorrow when they aren't let in.

[Jaded]

What a bunch of whinnycandyassfrickencrybabies. The loser Dems and their ilk, reflect poorly on the rest of us from Texas. Why don't we ship them to Kaliforn-i-a?

[Flyer]

If ya can't solve it by RUNNING AWAY, just WRECK it with protestors

Whatever it takes to avoid their Constitutional responsibility.

[Puppage]

Whatever it takes to avoid their Constitutional responsibility.

Yep. But, the rats are just smarter than the rest of us. They just KNOW better. (PUKE!)

[Prince Caspian]

I don't understand the need to adjourn for the day. Just recess for 30 minutes to clear the gallery of disruptors, and then continue to session. Real simple.

[caisson71]

You're correct. I don't think those rats were just sittng in their hotel rooms watching porno movies and eating twinkies.

[Flyer]

I don't understand the need to adjourn for the day

Maybe they are hoping the protesters had only planned on a day trip and the buses to take them home leave at 5:00 p.m.

[hellinahandcart]

I don't understand the need to adjourn for the day. Just recess for 30 minutes to clear the gallery of disruptors, and then continue to session. Real simple.

Yep. Now they've given the democrats til 10:00 a.m. tomorrow to flee the state again.

[livius]

I remember reading earlier this spring, before the Dems took off on their "chicken run," that meetings on the redistricting had been stacked with Dem rent-a-winos. The Dems had even attempted to hire people from Kelly and other temp agencies to attend the meetings and disrupt them! (When they caught on, the more reputable agencies refused.)

[DrewsDad]

From the Austin [un]American [mis]Statesman:

Senate adjourns before Democrats arrive

New Mexico 10 greeted with fanfare from gallery

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Monday, September 15, 2003

The third special session of the Texas Legislature was called to order Monday at noon. But an unprecedented spectacle unfolded in the Senate chamber a few minutes later, after the chamber members adjourned for the day.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called the Senate to order and announced "Members, a quorum is present."

It's the first time in more than a month that 21 senators have been in the chamber since 11 Democratic senators boycotted by leaving the state for New Mexico.

The Senate meeting lasted only a few minutes. Bills were referred to committees and Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, made a motion to adjourn before 10 of the boycotting Democrats could arrive.

The Republican motion to adjourn was met by loud hissing, booing, chanting and yelling from the gallery packed with redistricting opponents.

Minutes later the Democratic senators, led by Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, entered the chamber, greeted by cheers and screams of support.

The returning senators formed a circle and joined hands, holding them up in the air while the crowd wildly greeted them.