Free Republic

A conservative group has filed a criminal complaint against state Sen. John Whitmire, accusing him of coercion in an exchange of text messages with University of Houston President Renu Khator that was published in the Houston Chronicle. In the Aug. 16 conversation, Whitmire told Khator he would "stop dead and pass leg (legislation)" unless she killed a plan to require freshmen to live on campus. Khator agreed to withdraw the proposal and asked Whitmire to forgive her. The complaint, filed Aug. 29 with Travis County's Public Integrity Unit by the Conservative Action Fund, cites the exchange. The unit investigates claims...

AUSTIN — A former bartender at a Texas Capitol-area bar has sued her old employer, claiming she was fired because she refused to serve state Sen. John Whitmire when he was drunk. A top aide to Whitmire, D-Houston, said she was present that night at the Cloak Room and called the bartender's allegations about the senator a "complete fabrication." In her lawsuit, Rebekah L. Lear said she lost her job at the bar because she refused to serve Whitmire a second scotch on the night of March 8. Lear also alleges that Whitmire threatened to have her fired. Lear claims...

Whitmire treated like a turncoat BY NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - When 10 Democratic lawmakers returned to the Capitol after running off to New Mexico for six weeks to block congressional redistricting, they were met with boisterous cheers from the Senate gallery. But the crowd had a different welcome for Democratic Sen. John Whitmire of Houston: Members of the audience unveiled white T-shirts printed with one letter apiece, spelling out "QUITMIRE." After spending more than 30 days holed up in a hotel in Albuquerque, N.M., Whitmire broke ranks with his fellow Democrats Sept. 2 and decided to return...

Whitmire gives Senate a quorum for third special session By R.G. RATCLIFFE Sept. 15, 2003, 8:58PM AUSTIN - The third special session on redistricting opened at noon with Sen. John Whitmire of Houston giving Republicans something they have lacked since July 28 -- a Senate quorum. The presence of Whitmire, D-Houston, cleared the path for Republicans to push a redistricting bill through the Senate. Eleven Democrats, including Whitmire, had blocked the bill through two special sessions by breaking the quorum. Senate Secretary Patsy Spaw called the roll with Whitmire present. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst immediately announced: "A quorum is present."...

Texas senators return BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer Before a cheering crowd of family, friends and supporters, the "Texas 11 Minus One" delivered hugs and speeches Wednesday afternoon in Laredo after returning from a defiant six-week holdout in Albuquerque, N.M. While the Cigarroa High School band played and stylish Ryan Elementary cheerleaders performed, the 10 Democratic state senators received a good dose of Texas heat while they stood on a makeshift stage in an airport hangar before an enormous Texas flag. Hanging over the air was the possibility of being arrested by Texas Department of Public Safety agents. City...

Redistricting fight continues Gov. Perry calls for third special session BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer After more than six weeks of personal financial and family sacrifice to fight the Republican leadership on congressional redistricting, the "Texas 11 Minus One" are coming home Wednesday. Laredo will be their first stop in the Lone Star State. Eight of the 10 Democratic state senators are expected to fly in from Albuquerque, N.M. Wednesday. They will land at 4:30 p.m. at Labata FBO, a private hangar at the Laredo International Airport, and will be joined later by senators Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville...

'We failed,' Whitmire says, but vows to continue fight By RACHEL GRAVES Sept. 4, 2003, 1:38PM John Whitmire had already spent weeks pacing the halls of the Albuquerque Marriott like a caged tiger when reality set in. A federal court would likely rule against him and 10 other Texas state senators on the lam in New Mexico, and the U.S. Justice Department would probably work against their attempts to stall a Republican redistricting effort, the Houston Democrat thought. As the hotel walls grew more confining, the options of returning to Texas to deliberately get arrested or persuading 51 House members...

Whitmire says redistricting will be debated in Austin By JUAN A. LOZANO Associated Press Sept. 3, 2003, 3:12PM The first Democratic senator to break ranks with the boycotting legislators who fled to New Mexico said today that ultimately congressional redistricting will have to be debated on the Texas Senate floor. Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat, said if Republican Gov. Rick Perry decides to continue calling special legislative sessions on the issue, the governor can outlast the 10 Senate Democrats who remain in Albuquerque, N.M. "We cannot remain in New Mexico indefinitely. At some point in time, unless you're prepared...

Standoff may crumble Whitmire returns; Perry weighs 3rd special session By RACHEL GRAVES and ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA Sept. 2, 2003, 10:25PM State Sen. John Whitmire came home to Houston late Tuesday, possibly ending the long holdout by Texas Democratic senators who fled the state to prevent a vote on congressional redistricting. Whitmire, who revealed earlier Tuesday that he had sneaked home over the Labor Day weekend, returned to Albuquerque, N.M., to meet with his colleagues but did not even unpack his bags before catching a flight back to Houston Tuesday night. He said he remains opposed to redistricting, but he would...

Dems get little salve from judge Frustrated Whitmire almost bolts for home By RACHEL GRAVES, ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA and R.G. RATCLIFFE Aug. 28, 2003, 12:06AM ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- After getting little comfort from a judge they hoped would advance their cause, 11 Democrats boycotting the Texas Senate in a partisan standoff vowed Wednesday to stay away even as one of them acknowledged he had been on the verge of heading home. The senators took Sen. John Whitmire of Houston to task at a closed-door meeting Wednesday evening, after he expressed impatience with the continuing impasse and indicated his bags were packed...

Five senators coming for redistricting lawsuit BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer Wednesday promises to be another hot one for Laredo - politically speaking, that is. Five of the 11 Democratic state senators are scheduled to fly in from Albuquerque for the first hearing on the congressional redistricting lawsuit that involves Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Chief U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen will preside over all pending legal motions in federal court. The five state senators scheduled to attend the Laredo hearing are Judith Zaffirini (Laredo), John Whitmire (Houston), Eliot Shapleigh (El Paso), Royce West (Dallas)...