Walkout leader blasts Perry
Senate Democrat says governor's push for remap has been divisive
08/04/2003
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Unlike George W. Bush, who united people when he was Texas governor, his successor, Gov. Rick Perry, is dividing Texans, the leader of the walkout by 11 Democratic senators said Sunday.
"The difference was Bush was the great uniter. Perry and [U.S. House Majority Leader Tom] DeLay are the great dividers," said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Her comments came on the sixth day of the Democratic boycott of the Texas Senate in protest over congressional redistricting. Democrats have a 17-15 edge in the Texas congressional delegation, but Republicans, led by Mr. DeLay, are pushing for a new map that would probably give the GOP the majority.
Ms. Van de Putte said that as governor, Mr. Bush made a great effort to bring minorities into the Republican Party. She said Mr. Perry, on the other hand, was threatening to lock up in the Senate chamber the Hispanic and black senators so they would be forced to vote on a redistricting map that she said would disenfranchise minorities.
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"What kind of image is that?" Ms. Van de Putte said. "I think the real danger here is not to Governor Perry. I think the real danger here is to the White House and the Republican efforts that would want to be so inclusive."
Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said Ms. Van de Putte's allegations are ludicrous and that Mr. Perry does not have the authority to lock senators in the chamber. Only the lieutenant governor can lock the senators into the chamber.
"Her accusations are intended to obscure the fact that they ran away from their job and their responsibility," Ms. Walt said. "They can't begin to represent their constituents while they are in New Mexico."
Ms. Walt said that Mr. Perry drew 35 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2002 and that his policies on education, economic development and other issues have brought more Hispanics to the Republican Party.
Ms. Van de Putte acknowledged that she believes that presidential adviser Karl Rove has been involved in the redistricting effort.
"I don't know whose puppet strings are controlling which puppet at this point in the Republican Party," she said.
She also took a personal swipe at Mr. Perry.
He's "not the brightest porch light on the block," Ms. Van de Putte said. But, "he really looks good in jeans."
Ms. Walt said Ms. Van de Putte is stooping to personal attacks to try to turn the issue away from the fact that "they ran away from their responsibilities."
Attempts to approve a redistricting bill failed during the regular legislative session and the first special session. Last week, Mr. Perry called lawmakers back for a second special session to try again.
The Democrats departed for Albuquerque before he called the session. Their absence has blocked a quorum in the Senate, preventing the lawmakers who stayed in Austin from taking up business in the chamber.
Ms. Van de Putte said that redistricting is dead this legislative session but added that it's possible that a map could get approved if another legislative session is called.
She said several issues would have to be decided, including whether Republicans can work out differences on a map and whether Democratic lawmakers decide to remain in Austin rather than break a quorum.
"There's a lot of ifs there," Ms. Van de Putte said.
The Democrats have pledged to stay out of Austin until the second 30-day special session ends at the end of the month.
Mr. Perry has declined to say how long he might continue to call 30-day special legislative sessions if redistricting fails in this one.
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/tsw/stories/080403dntexredist.1c178.html
