Free Republic

Texas Democrats life of the party From coast to coast, the quorum-busting state lawmakers' move inspires others in the fold 09:32 PM CDT on Sunday, October 19, 2003 By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine – It was a cool clear fall night – perfect for baseball – with New England's beloved Boston Red Sox in a televised pennant fight. But, the tube was shut off at one stately oceanside home, with the conversation focused on the guests of honor and their Mother's Day journey to Ardmore, Okla. – or, in lobsterman patois, "Odd-moore." "Democrats for...

Senate approves redistricting measure, sends to governor 07:00 PM CDT on Sunday, October 12, 2003 Associated Press AUSTIN - A six-month battle in the Texas Legislature ended Sunday when the Senate passed a congressional redistricting plan in a third special legislative session. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who is expected to sign it into law. The new map, approved in the Senate by a 17-14, likely will give Republicans the majority in the Texas Congressional delegation that is now ruled 17-15 by Democrats. Democrats have opposed every attempt by Republicans to pass a new plan, saying...

Senator: Redistricting Should be Debated "On Senate Floor" LAST UPDATE: 9/5/2003 3:04:31 PM Posted By: Jim Forsyth (AUSTIN) -- One of the eleven Democratic Texas state senators who spent 34 days in New Mexico in an attempt to kill a Republican backed Congressional redistricting plan returned to the Capitol today, and vowed to continue the battle on the Senate floor. John Whitmire (D-Houston), the longest serving member of the Texas Senate, urged Governor Rick Perry not to call a third special session to discuss the issue, but he said if that happens, he will 'be present' in the Senate. Whitmire,...

AUSTIN -- State Sen. John Whitmire plans to hold a news conference today in a Senate room he is barred from using until he pays $57,000 in fines levied against him by Republican senators. Whitmire, D-Houston, broke ranks with fellow Democratic senators earlier this week by announcing he was quitting a Senate boycott. He said he would return to Austin from Albuquerque, N.M., in an effort to negotiate a deal to end a stalemate in the congressional redistricting battle with Republicans. Whitmire's staff announced the news conference without booking the Lieutenant Governor's Press Conference Room. But Senate spokesman Mark Miner...

From NM: 'We are undeterred' Some senators raise possibility of returning for difficult filibuster 10:19 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 By ROBERT T. GARRETT / The Dallas Morning News ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Democrats who fled Texas to block efforts to boost Republican power in Congress said Wednesday that they intend to fight on, despite a defection that could hand the GOP a legislative victory on redistricting. "We are undeterred," said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso. "We will take this fight to any arena, at any place, at any time to protect voting rights ... and our...

Posted on Wed, Sep. 03, 2003 Democrat wants hearing on redistricting impact on civil rights Associated Press WASHINGTON - A high-ranking Democrat and his colleagues have asked the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on the potential civil rights implications of redistricting legislation Republicans are pushing in Texas. Rep. John Conyers, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, initiated the letter that was signed by eight other Democratic members of the committee and sent Wednesday afternoon to Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. Democrats said the Republican congressional redistricting efforts in Texas make matters worse for minority communities that...

Sen. John Whitmire said today he secretly spent the last five days in Houston, and that it is time for his fellow Democratic senators to end their boycott over congressional redistricting. "After being in my district for five days, I have concluded my constituents are opposed to redistricting, but they also believe the fight should be on the Senate floor," the Houston legislator said. "I am returning to New Mexico to keep my commitment to the Texas 11. I will discuss with my colleagues that we need an exit plan, and we need it now." Whitmire did not say where...

ALBUQUERQUE — Claiming there's a plot to arrest them, the Senate Democrats abruptly cancelled their plans to return to Texas today for a court hearing in Laredo.As many as seven of the 11 Democrats who killed congressional redistricting by fleeing the state had planned on attending a hearing today on their lawsuit in federal court.But Democratic consultant Harold Cook said the group cancelled the trip after the Democrats obtained "credible evidence" that Gov. Rick Perry intended on calling another special session and "deputized officials" would try to detain the senators.Cook did not say what the evidence was, but said a...

Dewhurst can change Senate's two-thirds rule, Justice Department says Ruling comes day before Republicans and Democrats head to federal court AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, August 26, 2003 As the Legislature ended its second special session on congressional redistricting today, all the players in the partisan standoff geared up to take their battle to a Laredo courtroom on Wednesday. But within hours of the session's end, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a ruling that raised new questions about whether the courts will have any authority to settle the dispute. The ruling found that the Senate did not need pre-clearance from the...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Texans and the rest of the nation soon will be hearing more about the 11 Senate Democrats who are boycotting GOP attempts to redraw the state's congressional districts. Moveon.org, an activist group founded in 1998 by two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, has raised almost $1 million via the Internet and within days will launch a national ad campaign featuring the Texas senators, said Glenn Smith, spokesman for the Internet group. He said the TV, radio and print ads will be different outside of Texas. There will be a broader national message accusing Republicans of trying to steal elections,...

The Heart of Texas Chapter of FreeRepublic.com and many other dedicated Texas FReepers had a great time FReeping the Texas Chicken Run Rally today at the Texas State Capitol. There were probably about 1,000 democrats brought in on luxury buses from all over the state. We had 10-20 FReepers and others there to take them on. Honor Roll includes basil, Gracey, The Bat Lady, hocndoc, CindyDawg and husband, jobshopper and wife, JimNtexas, DeadCorpse, and of course PetroniDE(proudly representing the HAT Chapter). There were several others who joined us including Verona, the "Get us out of U.N." guy, and a few...

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