Texas state senators in exile fear arrest

AP | 8/27/03 | LISA FALKENBERG

[kattracks]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Texas Senate Democrats who stymied Republican redistricting plans by fleeing to New Mexico may not be returning home any time soon, despite running down the clock on the special legislative session.

The 30-day limit on the latest session expired Tuesday and Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry said he was prepared to call yet another special session to get the issue resolved, though he would not say when.

If they re-enter Texas, the 11 Senate Democrats now in Albuquerque said they feared being arrested and hauled back to the capitol should Perry call another session. Senate rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said she and the 10 other Democrats are prepared to stay away another 30 days, the maximum length of a special session.

Both sides faced a hearing Wednesday in Laredo, Texas, on the Democrats' federal lawsuit that alleges their constitutional rights as well as the Voting Rights Act have been violated by the GOP.

Some of the senators had planned to attend but decided late Tuesday not to cross the state line amid mounting rumors that Republicans might try to get them arrested, said Harold Cook, a consultant for the Democrats.

"They haven't come this far to be lured into a trap," he said.

Perry didn't discount Democrats' concerns about being arrested in Texas. "I guess that is a legitimate concern, I suppose. If they don't want to be here working then I don't think the lieutenant governor has any other options."

Republicans, who control the Texas House and Senate, have been trying to redraw the state's political lines to increase the number of Republicans in Congress.

Democrats have a 17-15 majority in the Texas delegation and have said the current map should not be changed. They argue that proposals before the GOP-dominated Legislature this year would have hurt minority representation.

Democrats and one Republican thwarted the plan in the first special session, but Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst tried to push it through in the second session by dropping a rule that requires two-thirds of senators to agree to consider a bill.

With no blocking power, Democrats fled the state July 28 to avoid a vote and later sued, claiming Republicans violated their rights by dropping the rule. The 11 Democratic senators said the two-thirds rule is vital in ensuring racial, ethnic, or political minorities bargaining power.

Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate, sent a warning Tuesday to self-exiled Democrats, who along with House Democrats have defeated redistricting three times this year.

"Let me pass on a very clear message to our 11 colleagues out in Albuquerque. The mood in the Senate is changing. We're tired. We're tired of sitting here and waiting," Dewhurst said.

Three of the Democrats watched from Albuquerque on the Internet as the Legislature adjourned. "It really is sad to see the Texas Legislature so divided and at the same time, we felt validated because we accomplished what we set out to do," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini.

[goldstategop]

Arrest them ALL and throw the book at 'em. Give the enemy NO quarter!!!

[Roscoe]

Has any consideration been given to walking in on the Rats and declaring a quorum?

[Stinger]

"Get all the rope in Texas, find a tall oak tree"

[Stinger]

"Get all the rope in Texas, find a tall oak tree"

[maestro]

Texas state senators in exile fear arrest

Arrest them all and send them to, 'terrorist,' Cuba for their own good and the constitution/Republic.

/sarcasm

[sweetliberty]

"Texas DemocRAT Senators"

[Martyboy1]

Reminds me of that Tom Petty song...You know you don't...have...to live like a refugee...

[ODDITHER]

These people remind me of 4 yeaar old spoiled children.

One time when my daughter was four, I told her that she had to help clean and organize her toys and sort out the toys she had outgrown. She didn't want to give those toys up even though she had not played with them since she was a toddler.

She threw a temper tamtrums and when she saw that not only was she not going to get her way but would be punished, she ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Then she wouldn't come out because not only did she still not want to clean her bedroom, but she was afraid that I would "arrest" her.

But alas, I had two things on my side, both she and I knew that she was wrong in the way she acted but that locked door while protecting her from me, kept her from the TV, food, and all of her toys.

I just got a book to read. sat down in the hall and waited quietly.Evntually after calling my name and getting no answer, she came out. I promptly took her into custody, and she spent the rest of the afternoon in her room, with little negotiation power over which toys to keep.

Spoiled children must learn that temper tantrums never work.

[Dudoight]

Extended absence which disrupts the legislative process should call for the governor to appoint replacements from each district. That would get them back in session in a hurry. Or, change the laws as to a deadline requiring a vote, whether they are back in Texas or not.

[El Laton Caliente]

Not sure they can do that legally, but after 30/60/90 days they can be declaired non-residents therefore their seats would be vacant. ;^)

[El Laton Caliente]

Not sure they can do that legally, but after 30/60/90 days they can be declaired non-residents therefore their seats would be vacant. ;^)

[hocndoc]

Kattracks, do you have the source url for this article?

Notice that the author (finally) is the first to state bluntly that,

""Senate rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum.""

[MeekOneGOP]

Google News Title Search found it here ...

Texas State Senators in Exile Fear Arrest

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !!

Texas RAT Liberals Run to Albuquerque !!
(To the tune of Locomotion)

[hocndoc]

Thank you for *both* references!

[RightFighter]

Has any consideration been given to walking in on the Rats and declaring a quorum?

That's what I've been saying for some time. I can see nothing in the Texas constitution that says that the legislature has to meet IN TEXAS. I'm sure some would argue that they would, but Governor Perry can certainly conduct state business while he's outside the state, so why can't the legislature as well?

[Dog Gone]

Democrats early Wednesday said they were given credible information that Republicans had arranged a plan that would have resulted in the arrest of at least one of the Democrats in Laredo. During the just-ended session, the Senate was one member short of the attendance needed to conduct business.

Democrats would not reveal the information, but said they were advised not to return to Texas by a Republican colleague.

"We spent a month of our lives on this," Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin, said. "We're not about to make a silly mistake."

A spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry, however, said there was no plot against the Democrats.

"It appears the senators in New Mexico have been watching too many pay-per-view movies in their hotel rooms," said Gene Acuña. "That is such a laughable scenario, it's not worthy of response."

link

[Roscoe]

Even giving the appearance that the GOP members were preparing to do it would force the criminal fugitives to go on the run instead of just comfortably camping out.

[MeekOneGOP]

You bet !