Buddha Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 'Amber Alert' issued -- for on-the-run Texas lawmakers 'It is a disgrace to run and hide' Tuesday, May 13, 2003 Posted: 3:54 AM EDT (0754 GMT) AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) -- The political version of the Amber Alert was posted for 53 Texas legislators who fled the state Capitol to avoid a vote that could cost Democrats seven congressional seats. Without the Democrats present, the Republican-controlled House does not have the two-thirds quorum needed for a vote on legislation to redraw congressional districts. News reports late Monday quoted leaders of the missing Democrats as saying they are gathered across the state line in Ardmore, Oklahoma, out of reach of Texas Rangers who have been ordered to arrest them and return them to the House chamber. A bulletin was posted Monday on the Texas Department of Public Safety Web site -- the same one used to alert citizens to missing children and wanted criminals -- asking for help in locating the missing lawmakers. "The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking the public for assistance in locating 53 Texas legislators who have disappeared," the bulletin read. "Anyone who has information regarding the current whereabouts of the legislators listed below is asked to call 1-800-525-5555." "Under the Texas Constitution, the majority of members present in session in the House can vote to compel the presence of enough members to make a quorum," it read. "Members of the House did so this morning and directed the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House and the DPS to locate the absent members and bring them back to Austin." The Web site then names the 53 missing Democrats. A report in The Austin American-Statesman newspaper Tuesday morning said the group was gathered in the Holiday Inn near the Texas state line in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and that a news conference was planned for Tuesday. Republicans took control of the Texas House in November for the first time since Reconstruction. With 88 Republican members in the 150-member body, they still need at least a dozen Democrats present for a quorum. Just three Democrats remained at the Capitol on Monday, the newspaper said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince62 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 publish their names in bold print so they can be voted out of office!!! the repubs couldn't dream of better publicity...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Can't wait to hear what they have to say for themselves. Fleeing the state they represent? Something is seriously weird here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 News reports late Monday quoted leaders of the missing Democrats as saying they are gathered across the state line in Ardmore, Oklahoma, out of reach of Texas Rangers who have been ordered to arrest them and return them to the House chamber. Are you kidding me? This is how conservatives behave? Send out the Rangers to arrest them? What could possibly be a charge that would hold up? And you people think its just the Democrats who are disgraceful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 How dumb of them to run. However, how dumb to use Rangers to chase them. I'm sure there are real criminals that would use some arresting in Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Yeah how dare the GOP try to make the government run properly. They should just let the Dems take their ball and go home if they dont like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Wow, A drastic measure designed to gain publicity on this shameful redistricting plan. Nice work, we're paying attention now aren't we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 It's unfortunate that these kind of redistricting plans happen. But both sides are responsible and both bear the burden of blame. The issue isn't the redistricting though. It's the shameful actions of the Dems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkyalligator Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Hmmm, lets see a Republican controlled House in Texas where a redistricting plan that managed to cost the democrats 7 seats in an already Republican house, can we say gerrymandering??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 If it is, then the courts will overturn it as they did in VA and GA. (examples of both parties). But for them to not even allow a vote is indicative of the Dems approach to politics these days. I guess they take their lead from the national party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Kilmer, They got want they wanted. I know a vote will come sooner or later. The light is now on this situation nationaly. Objective achieved. Nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Jack, why do Dems continue to think it's okay to stop a vote from happening. Isnt the will of the people being ignored? Argue that they are acting within the rules if you want, but so then is the Atty General by sending the Rangers after them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 It's unfortunate that these kind of redistricting plans happen. But both sides are responsible and both bear the burden of blame. The issue isn't the redistricting though. It's the shameful actions of the Dems. I guess gerrymandering is ok - as long as the GOP does it. The DEMS in the story are definitely in the wrong here...that goes without question. But using the Rangers to round them up? Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 TEG, did you even read the post that you copied and pasted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 TEG, did you even read the post that you copied and pasted? Yes, and I purposely avoided your spin on this issue. The real issue is, gerrymandering. Thats what the DEMS are complaining about. They obviously choose the wrong method to fight it - no doubt. But you can't just ignore the trees and simply look at the forest can you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Here is a newer story...and yeah, this isn't over gerrymandering is it? Nope, the GOP only stands to gain 5 more (out of 32) seats...despite an already COURT drawn district map. Texas Democrats Refuse to Go to Capitol By APRIL CASTRO, Associated Press Writer AUSTIN, Texas - Democratic lawmakers angry with the new GOP leadership brought the Texas House to a standstill by skipping town and then refused to return to the Capitol after Republicans sent troopers to Oklahoma to retrieve them. The lawmakers left Austin on Sunday, after days of strategizing to waylay a contentious GOP-led battle to redraw the state's congressional lines to favor Republicans. The GOP leaders sent the troopers to Ardmore, Okla., on Monday to ask the Democrats to return but they remained at a hotel there Tuesday morning. The absence of the 58 Democrats denied the House its required 100-member quorum and capped months of tension between Democrats and the newly-in-control Republicans over a bill to limit lawsuits and a GOP budget that would make deep spending cuts without raising taxes. "They're legislative terrorists and their leaving today is a weapon of mass obstruction, blocking hundreds of pieces of legislation," Republican Rep. Dan Branch said Monday. The Democrats said they were taking a stand for fair treatment of the minority party. They said U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, had pushed the Texas House to take up the issue of congressional redistricting instead of more pressing matters, such as the state budget. "There are some issues that are important to us, important to all Texans," Rep. Pete Gallego said. "If the leadership will agree to take up those issues and agree to put redistricting aside, it would make it a lot easier." The state already has a court-drawn redistricting map, but Republicans say it doesn't match state voting trends and want to redo the plan. Their proposal could add five to seven GOP House seats to the 15 already in Republican hands. The state has 32 members in the U.S. House. Redistricting had been scheduled on the House calendar for Monday. The deadline for preliminarily votes on House bills is Thursday or they risk dying for the session, which ends June 2. Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick called the Democrats' move disgraceful. He said he made a plane available to Democrats who chose to return and said troopers were sent over the state line to tell lawmakers to return home. While House rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum, the troopers have no legal authority to arrest the lawmakers because they were outside the state. Craddick told his chamber that Texas officials were working with federal authorities to try to get permission to arrest the Democrats. Fifty-eight of the 62 Democrats were absent Monday but it was unclear how many were in Oklahoma. The Texas House cannot convene without at least 100 of the 150 members present. The body has 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats. The missing Democratic lawmakers spent Monday in a hotel conference room, where large sheets of paper taped to the walls were used as makeshift chalkboards and long tables were filled with laptop computers, stacks of papers and notebooks. They said they discussed school financing, homeowners insurance and other issues and planned to resume the work sessions Tuesday. They did not say how long they would stay away but said they packed for four days. The Democrats' presence at the Holiday Inn in Ardmore, about 30 miles north of the Texas line, was discovered late Monday. It was unclear how Republicans learned of their whereabouts. Republican Gov. Rick Perry lambasted the Democrats for deserting the Legislature, saying "we might as well shut this building down and let it become a museum because the work of the people is through." The remaining House Republicans spent hours of idle time locked in the chamber constructing signs and gimmicks ridiculing their Democratic colleagues. A pair of milk cartons circulated around the chamber, plastered with the faces of missing Democrats. The remaining lawmakers were allowed to go home Monday night and were to return Tuesday morning. Craddick said Perry assured him he would call a special session after the regular session if it's needed. The walkout came 24 years to the month since a group of 12 Texas state senators defied then-Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby by refusing to show up at the Capitol. Some of the "Killer Bees," as the 12 Democrats came to be known, hid out in a west Austin garage apartment while troopers, Texas Rangers and legislative sergeants-at-arms unsuccessfully combed the state for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 During all the years of Demon-cratic domination of legislatures across the country, I never heard of the GOP doing such a thing. Generally speaking, when your party is in the majority you get certain perks. That's just the way the system works. If the redistricting amounts to gerrymandering, let the courts decide that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 I said specifically that both sides bore the burden. I even cited examples of both parties doing it. The issue is NOT gerrymandering. The issue is the Dem party once again holding up the business of Govt by refusing to allow a vote. Did the GOP in GA leave the chamber when the Dems did this? Did the GOP leave the chamber in Mass. when the Dems did it? If it's gerrymandering, then the courts will rule that way and not allow it. But the determination is for the courts to decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 I said specifically that both sides bore the burden. I even cited examples of both parties doing it. The issue is NOT gerrymandering. The issue is the Dem party once again holding up the business of Govt by refusing to allow a vote. Did the GOP in GA leave the chamber when the Dems did this? Did the GOP leave the chamber in Mass. when the Dems did it? If it's gerrymandering, then the courts will rule that way and not allow it. But the determination is for the courts to decide. So you think resdistricting and gaining 5 more seats for your party has more importance than say, working on a state budget? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Where did I say that? Both need to be addressed, however because of the Dems tactics, neither will be addressed. note- I do not know whether or not the budget is pending in Texas. I am assuming it is pending. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Now we all know how shady politicians are...but this is a quote from the above article... They said U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, had pushed the Texas House to take up the issue of congressional redistricting instead of more pressing matters, such as the state budget. If thats true, then the true business of the Texas Government is redistricting The DEMS have gone on record with this quote... "There are some issues that are important to us, important to all Texans," Rep. Pete Gallego said. "If the leadership will agree to take up those issues and agree to put redistricting aside, it would make it a lot easier." Again - we all know politicians will say anything - but it looks like an olive branch is being thrown out...now its up to the GOP to meet them halfway. Again, I cannot stress how much these 53 DEMS are in the wrong here on fleeing the state. What they are in the right on, IMHO, is the simple fact that the Texas GOP is hell bent on gerrymandering the districts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 Where did I say that? Both need to be addressed, however because of the Dems tactics, neither will be addressed. note- I do not know whether or not the budget is pending in Texas. I am assuming it is pending. Well if Texas is like a lot of states, the state fiscal year will begin July 1. Most states don't have deficit capabilities - so they have to pass a balanced budget. So from March to June in every FY - the single most pressing issue usually is getting the budget passed. A lot of states dont pass one in time and literally will stop the clocks on the assemble floor at 11:59pm June 30 until they pass a budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 They have to redistrict. They have to pass a budget. Neither can be accomplished now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 Originally posted by Kilmer17 They have to redistrict. They have to pass a budget. Neither can be accomplished now. Again - why do they HAVE to redistrict? The Courts have already previously identified the districts. The GOP WANTS to redistrict because by doing it the way they WANT - they gain 5 MORE seats (out of 32). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince62 Posted May 13, 2003 Share Posted May 13, 2003 TEG....do you favor redistricting if it concentrates votes among minorities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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