Posted on 08/13/2003 11:04:11 AM PDT by kattracks
DALLAS (AP) — The Texas Republican Party is seeking a federal investigation into whether 11 state Senate Democrats who fled to New Mexico violated campaign finance laws by flying there in a bank's private jet.
The GOP made the announcement Tuesday after the mostly Democrat-less Senate approved a resolution to fine each missing lawmaker $1,000 a day, with the fine doubling for each missed session, but not to exceed $5,000 a day.
The Democrats, who have been in Albuquerque, N.M., for more than two weeks, have brought the Senate to a standstill by denying it a quorum to take up a GOP plan for congressional redistricting, an issue that has failed to pass twice this year. House Democrats fled the state for four days in May to block the redistricting bill in the regular session.
Texas Democratic Party Consultant Jeff Crosby said the Senators had checked with the Texas Ethics Commission on the use of the private plane.
"Everything they did was legal and proper," he said. "This is a completely frivolous complaint."
But Texas GOP chairwoman Susan Weddington called it "a blatant abuse of campaign finance laws that cannot be tolerated."
Democratic leaders have said the plane was donated by David Rogers, president of the First National Bank of Edinburg. However, online records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration show no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank, The Associated Press confirmed.
Weddington said a federal law prohibits national banks from making many different types of political contributions.
"We have rules against companies and national banks making political contributions, and the First National Bank of Edinburg and the Democrats that fled our state obviously have little regard for these laws," she said.
Weddington sent a letter seeking "an immediate investigation" to Archie L. Bransford Jr., deputy comptroller of the Comptroller of the Currency's Southeastern District office in Atlanta, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department that regulates national banks.
Bransford did not immediately return a telephone call Wednesday.
The Democrats also contend the fines passed by the Senate are illegal, saying Senate rules for sanctions call for nothing more than arrest by the Senate sergeant-at-arms.
"I won't pay it," said state Sen. Rodney Ellis.
Several said they would not be persuaded to return to Austin.
"We want our members and our colleagues back so that we can take up these issues before us and get on with our lives," said Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate.
Dewhurst cited a decision delivered Tuesday by state Attorney General Greg Abbott that senators have no constitutional right to break a quorum and that the Texas Constitution authorizes the remaining senators to compel their attendance.
So many issues to deal with, and so little time...
I'm sure Mr. Rogers didn't want the bank name published, because there's bound to be plenty of Republicans who bank there that don't approve of coddling the Albuturkeys.
Why would this bank need a couple of private planes? The IRS might have a field day if they were to ask for substantiation of business use for tax purposes. Also, I'm sure Mr. Rogers would rather not have to personally reimburse his bank for the personal use of the planes.
I'm glad to see the TX pubbies go on the offense. Give them Rats a little taste of their own medicine. In politics, the best defense is a good offense.
"Democratic leaders have said the plane was donated by David Rogers, president of the First National Bank of Edinburg."
"I won't pay it," said state Sen. Rodney Ellis.If it is not in his paycheck, he won't have much say in the matter.
The Republicans are tightening the vise.
Report Details GOP Bids For U.S. Aid in Tex. Fray
(Translation: Report describes Republican efforts to get Federal assistance in Texas congressional redistricting plan controversy)
Excerpt:
"The OIG report paints a portrait of a frantic, sometimes slapdash attempt by Texas Republicans on May 12 and 13 to locate the missing Democratic lawmakers and to force them to return to Austin. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) is widely seen as the driving force behind the redistricting plan, which is designed to produce five or more new GOP seats in the U.S. House, and his office was at the forefront of the effort.
According to the report, on May 13, a counsel to DeLay called Assistant Attorney General William E. Moschella in the Justice Department's office of legislative affairs and asked whether the Justice Department had any legal authority to intervene in the Texas dispute. This resulted in a flurry of telephone calls and e-mails among other senior Justice Department officials, who unanimously concluded that the department did not have the authority."
And here we are today. Democrats squealing like stuck pigs, and Republicans willing to spill blood on the senate floor.
I wish we could give the US Senators in DC an injection of whatever it is that Texas has.
Boy, is that the truth. Texas Republicans have consistently surprised me.
The Pubbies need to play hardball even harder.
Email Texas GOP: Taxpayers demand absconding Dems be charged with:
(1) theft of government services,
(2) misuse of office,
(3) misappropriation of tax funds,
(4) abuse of public office,
(5) receiving illegal gratuities,
(6) filing false documents,
(7) abuse of government power,
(8) conflict of interest,
(9) possible FEC violations,
(10) violating their oath of office;
(11) dereliction of duty.
email address: texasGOP.org
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