Democrats bolt again – to New Mexico (Senators trying to halt new special session on redistricting)

The Dallas Morning News ^ | July 28, 2003 | By GROMER JEFFERS JR. and WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

It just goes to show you that NO Democrat in Texas is above stooping to new lows to obstruct. Oh, excuse me, The [LIBERAL] Dallas Morning News calls it a 'boycott' so they can sell it as legitimate to their reading audience. Now we know the Texas 'RAT Senators are no better than the Texas House 'RATS.

Senate rules require that two-thirds of the chamber support a bill before it can be taken up for debate. Mr. Dewhurst has said he would bypass the rule so that only a majority of senators would need to support a bill for it to be debated during a second special session on redistricting.

That vow and one by Mr. Perry to keep calling special sessions until a redistricting plan was approved drove the Democrats from the state, Ms. Van de Putte said.

"When the lieutenant governor said he wouldn't honor the two-thirds rule, we decided to break quorum," she said.

So then when the Democrats didn't 'honor' that rule in 1992 to redraw the lines*, the 'RATS would have thought it was okay for the GOP to bolt, right ? < /MAJOR Sarcasm > The GOP stayed and played by the rules, to FIGHT for their constituents, NOT run away like children do when things don't go their way. I cannot express my thoughts and emotions on how this makes me feel. Just G-r-r-r! about sums it up, I guess.

"I'm willing to work with anybody Republican or Democrat. We need to do our work at the Capitol, where it's in the public view – no shuttle diplomacy," said Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford. "When you leave town, you're saying we are not interested in negotiation. We just want to kill the process."

Attorney General Greg Abbott suggested that the senators could be pursued across state lines, not necessarily by the DPS, but by the Senate sergeant-at-arms and his staff.

Mr. Abbott issued an opinion advising Mr. Dewhurst that the sergeant and his deputies have the legal authority to arrest AWOL members "wherever they may be found."

But, as a practical matter, Mr. Dewhurst said, the missing members are out of reach.

So there are the options, I guess. The GOP can send agents to arrest these juvenile delinquents 'wherever they may be found' or just keep calling special sessions.

And, btw, are Texas taxpayers paying for these AWOL Senators vacation/dereliction of their constitutional duty ???

* I will document that in my links and excerpts references I will subquently post to this thread.

[MeekOneGOP]

Here is a list of recent articles on Redistricting:

FR Search: Keyword "Redistricting"

07-28-2003
Session ends as 11 Democrats slip out
(Dem's Flee state again!)

07-26-2003
GOP effort to redraw districts is crushed
[Texas redistricting]

07-24-2003
Democrats may be free to flee - constitutionally protected, says lawyer

07-24-2003
As new Texas redistricting map offered,
Dewhurst says compromise is in the air

07-23-2003
Committee passes redistricting bill (Texas)

07-23-2003
Texas Republican Senators Forge Ahead on Congressional Redistricting Plans

07-19-2003
[Texas] Senators talk of boycotting any redistricting session
Mr. Dewhurst said he would be on solid ground in working around the Senate tradition requiring a two-thirds vote to take up a bill. The late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, a Democrat, did the same thing in a 1992 special session on legislative redistricting, Mr. Dewhurst said.

07-18-2003
New map, same pain for Dems
(Texas Redistricting fun)

07-17-2003
New map surfacing in Texas Senate

07-16-2003
Dewhurst at crossroads on redistricting in Texas Senate

07-15-2003
Ratliff joins Democrats to oppose redistricting
The state Republican Party was quick to point out that the [2/3rd’s] rule has been abandoned on occasion – such as when the Senate took up a state senatorial redistricting plan in 1992.

07-09-2003
DROP IT -- Redistricting would benefit few Texans, harm many
(Editorial)

07-08-2003
Senators have problems with House redistricting map - Texas redistricting

07-08-2003
House passes remap
Veteran Democrats may lose seats if bill goes through Senate

Above article is worthy of showing that a picture indeed is worth a thousand words:
First the Chicken D’s run away to Ardmore, Oklahoma. That didn’t work, so here they are,
still having a fit during the Redistricting debate:

As King began his argument for the new congressional boundaries Monday afternoon, about 30 Democrats in the gallery donned white socks as hand puppets to mock King. Every time he spoke, the little white mouths flapped.

07-07-2003
TEXAS REDISTRICTING--Vote TONIGHT!

07-07-2003
Race rhetoric stokes Texas redistricting fire

07-07-2003
Tension may soar as map debate hits House floor - Texas redistricting

07-06-2003
House panel quickly passes Republican redistricting plan -
map likely to unseat six Democrats

07-04-2003
New GOP map restores (Rep. Martin Frost's) district

07-03-2003
Republicans pull proposed map - redistricting

07-03-2003
Chamber of Commerce and GI Forum Hire Temps to Testify

07-02-2003
The Great Texas Power Grab - redistricting

07-01-2003
Tx Democrats Trying Fight, Not Flight, Over Districts
(The-Terrific-Texan-Special-Session)

[MeekOneGOP]

The OBSTRUCTORS:

Democratic state senators who left for Albuquerque on Monday:

Gonzalo Barrientos, Austin
Rodney Ellis, Houston
Mario Gallegos Jr., Houston
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, McAllen
Eddie Lucio Jr., Brownsville
Frank Madla Jr., San Antonio
Eliot Shapleigh, El Paso
Leticia Van de Putte, San Antonio
Royce West, Dallas
John Whitmire, Houston
Judith Zaffirini, Laredo



The ONE Democrat that stay to represent his constituents:

Kenneth Armbrister, Victoria

[MeekOneGOP]

Photos taken from the Texas Senators of the 78th Legislature website.

The 11 Obstructors:

Gonzalo Barrientos, Austin/Rodney Ellis, Houston/Mario Gallegos Jr., Houston

Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, McAllen/Eddie Lucio Jr., Brownsville/Frank Madla Jr., San Antonio

Eliot Shapleigh, El Paso/Leticia Van de Putte, San Antonio/Royce West, Dallas

John Whitmire, Houston/Judith Zaffirini, Laredo

---

The Lone Democrat that is staying:

Kenneth Armbrister, Victoria

[sgtbono2002]

A Question. These people have to return sometime. On their return cant they be arrested and held until after the special session is held? Thats right arrest them and hold them in a penitentiary and only allow them to go to the session.

[gunnedah]

Every elected body in this country needs to be shut down by Republicans where they have the means to do it. They will not do it tho because I dont know of a better way to demonstrate that government is useless and more about elected officials than those who elect them.
The so called rule of law is going to lead to anarchy if both sides respond this way and this bunch in Texas is going have their way or shut the government down.

[MeekOneGOP]

There are the 11 obstructors.

I have to take my car in to get it fixed right now. But when I get back here, I'm
going to write/e-mail them expressing my disgust with their obstructionism.

I believe there are e-mail links in that link I posted with the pics.

[Libloather]

Mr. West said he is prepared to stay away for 30 days.

Run out the clock. The Republicans should be prepared to keep this going until Christmas, if needed.

The RATS will do this again. Time to play hardball...

[MeekOneGOP]

There are pics on #4 of the 11 Democrat obstructors, and the ONE that stayed.
Perhaps the 11 obstructors would enjoy hearing from Freeper constituents ??

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

[Arrowhead1952]

I think it is time for the democrats to change their party emblem. They now need to have a chicken as their emblem, rather than a jacka$$. Seems like they are playing chicken, rather than stand and fight for their constitutients. One thing they have done is make my job while voting harder. I used to vote split ticket, depending on who better suited my stance on issues. After what the 51 dumbos did last session, I vowed to vote straight party Republican. Now, I have decided to go thru each race, and vote AGAINST any and every dumbocRAT on each and every race. IDIOTS!!!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Who pays their expenses while they are "boycotting"?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Scum sucking Rats at Mariott, Paseo and I-25. New Mexico FReepers are trying to coordinate something on the loacl board.

It pisses me off that these jerks are using my state like some trashy drug-lords holing up in a third world country. BASTARDS!

[whd23]

I was listening to this story on the radio on the way to work this morning. The reporter said the Democrats were ready to run and hide from the redistricting issue as long as it took. My immediate thought was: why not continue to call special sessions right through the next election cycle? If they remain out of state their re-election efforts will be hurt big-time, and if they go back to Texas they can be herded into the assembly chamber for a quorum vote. I just hope the Texas Republicans have more balls then the Republicans in the U.S. Senate....

[Tijeras_Slim]

Is it OK to despise these Texans?

[jimt]

It pisses me off that these jerks are using my state like some trashy drug-lords holing up in a third world country.

Drug lords are more respectable than these 'rat scum. Otherwise the comparison is apt.

[dufekin]

Is it OK to despise these Texans?

I'm not a Texan, but I think "despise" is a bit too mild. Quit trying to be nice to the obstructioneers.

[woofie]

Let me know what is going to happen ....I'll try to join you

[Destructor]

The Dimocratic Party goes out of power after over 100 years of having the majority. Dimocratic Party throws a big temper tantrum. That's it in a nutshell.

[Charles Henrickson]

Austin Cowards: Interstate Men of Misery
Austin Cowards: The Guys Who Gagged Me
Austin Cowards: Holed-up Members

[AndyMeyers]

The media keeps reporting that a Senate "Rule" requires two thirds to take up a bill. Although two thirds are required for a quorum it only takes a majority to take up and pass a bill. The "Rule" refers to taking up a bill out of order, which requires a two thirds vote.

Because of this "Rule" a "Blocker" Bill is often introduced that is never taken up requiring any other bill to have two thirds vote to be taken up.

If Perry calls another Special Session it will be for redistricting only. No "Blocker" bill can be introduced and therefore no two thirds vote would be required.

All the Senate needs is 1 of the 11 missing Senators to be present to constitute a quorum, he/she doesn't have to vote for or against the bill.