AWOL senators face fines

Austin American-Statesman ^ | August 12, 2003 | Ken Herman and Laylan Copelin

[Dog Gone]

This is almost becoming fun!

[jwalsh07]

Keep the courts out of it. The Texas Constitution gives their legislative branch remedies for dealing with the 'take my ball and go home' lefties.

Deal with them.

[ODDITHER]

what does the Texas Constitution allow the Senate to do? Would they need 2/3 of the Senators to vote this in?

Come to think of it, have Freepers looked into how their states would handle te same situation? The demos will do anything to get their way.

[mattdono]

AWOL senators face fines

Maybe it should be: AWOL senators face fines noose.

This is Texas after all; let's go medieval or, rather, old-western on their candy-a$$e$.

[Dog Gone]

The Texas Constitution specifically authorizes the members to compel attendance.

Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.

Under the plain meaning of that, it doesn't take 2/3rds to enact penalties.

The Rats are arguing that it does, but that would turn the Constitution on its head, and render this article meaningless.

[Arrowhead1952]

This is almost becoming fun!

Living near Austin and the "Keep Austin Wierd" slogan makes this just normal. The lefties here at work just think the runaway dems are heros. Wait until next election. The dumbo jack@$$s will have to work very hard to get re-elected. My political circles are talking about never voting for anyone with a "D" next to their name. I normally vote split ticket in most elections. Still will, but against any "D" on the ticket.

[Dog Gone]

The Dems seriously underestimated GOP resolve in this matter. They thought they killed redistricting by heading to Ardmore. They thought they had killed it again when Bill Ratliffe sided with them in blocking the bill from coming to the Senate floor.

They assumed that the overwhelming support they were getting from the major newspapers in this state would weaken GOP resolve. The Houston Chronicle today ran its 12th editorial of the year denouncing redistricting.

Then the Dems thought they had killed it when they fled to New Mexico.

They're wrong.

Perhaps the Republicans could have wimped out early in the process, but they can't now. It's politically impossible.

The Republicans will eventually prevail. The Democrats can't hide out forever.

[river rat]

Solution:

Texax should declare these democrats as wanted outaws.
Have the Texas Rangers cross into New Mexico and arrest them.
If resistance is encountered -- shoot the bastards!
If that swarmy assed, North Korean mouthpiece Gov. Richardson complains -- shoot him too!

</sarcasm> "only sorta"

Semper Fi

[KellyAdmirer]

Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.

That gives very broad powers. I hope the Republicans confiscate their salaries, too. Lots of possibilities with a statute that gives those kinds of powers. I wonder how many of those vagabonds want to lose their salaries, or their homes, or their pensions....

[altura]

Money talks and dems walk.

[mewzilla]

Fines? I bet the same people paying for the Chicken Ds stay will offer to cough up the money for any fines assessed. All under the table. No gift regs or tax laws need apply.

[Dog Gone]

Their salaries are minimal, $600 per month. I think we should fine each of them an amount per day equal to the cost of the special session they are holding up.

If I calculated correctly, that would be about $5,200 per day per Rat.

[MrConfettiMan]

Democrats NEVER cease to amaze me with the crap they try to get away with.

[deport]

Under the plain meaning of that, it doesn't take 2/3rds to enact penalties.

---

This is the part that will be argued in court..... The Repubs are saying they can enact or determine the penalities without a quorum or normal legislative process.... The democrats are saying they can't do this but only enforce penalities already in place and enacted in the course of normal business which there aren't any.....

Now who will win this arguement is yet to be seen...... Since it is strictly a legislative process I'd like the courts to stay completely out of it.

[Arrowhead1952]

The Democrats can't hide out forever.Personally, I wish they would hide forever. Better yet, just disappear forever.

One of my close friends is starting a drive to get several prominent (and conservative) lawyers and business people to run against the runaways.

[deport]

One thing that could occur is that they keep the dems out of state until the SS adjourns..... Let them get on planes come back to Texas, deplane and start making their way home, etc. Then have the orders ready for another SS, call it and let the Lt. Gov. do an immediate call of the Senate and lock it down. This time they will be in state and can be cornered with the Senate Sargent at Arms and his aides.... Only need a couple of them to be brought in if all the other Pubs hold....

[Dog Gone]

I don't mind trickery to capture a couple of them. Heck, I wouldn't rule out making a backroom deal with one of them to return and become a martyr, if that's what it takes.

The thing that is important is to make perfectly clear that we're not backing down, and so far, we've done a pretty good job of that. Once it becomes obvious to them that we're willing to wait indefinitely, their resolve should fade.

[Dog Gone]

I think the creation of a special campaign fund to finance GOP competitors in the Chicken's districts would raise a significant sum.

These races are not terribly expensive to wage, and it would make a big difference.

[lowbridge]

Austin lawyer Renea Hicks, who represents the 11 boycotting senators, disagreed that fines can be assessed.

"There's got to be a Senate rule to fine them," Hicks said. "They just can't make the rules up as they go along. I don't understand how the Senate can be so lawless as not to follow their rules."

Er, ahem.....***cough***....ahem.