Rep. Aaron Pena Considering Party Switch, GOP House Supermajority Possible

[sonias]

Burnt Orange Report 12/10/10
Rep. Aaron Pena Considering Party Switch, GOP House Supermajority Possible

With Austin Rep. Donna Howard winning her recount by 12 votes, Democrats thought they had locked in their important 51st vote in the Texas House, denying the GOP a 100 vote supermajority in the lower chamber. A 2/3rds majority is largely symbolic as there are few provisions that require a 2/3rds vote in the House- tapping the Rainy Day Fund, constitutional amendments, and overriding a gubernatorial veto or, in extreme cases, breaking quorum.

On Election Night, I remarked that Democrats were lucky that Democratic Representative Allan Ritter did not have a Republican opponent as he would have likely lost like the rest of his East Texas Anglo Democratic colleagues. I even remarked privately to folks in Austin that because of the slim margin we would be wise to keep an eye out for GOP pressure to garner a party switch from the Democratic caucus.

It appears that may be happening, but from an unlikely source.

Today, Rep. Aaron Pena of Hidalgo County, which still has no Republican officeholders, announced that he will issue a statement in the coming days to address swirling speculation that he may switch parties. From the Rio Grande Guardian...

:wtf: If Pena switches he's a coward and a sell out. :mad:

[PDittie]

1. A weasel AND a diva.

A puta who craves attention.

Let's review:

Craddickrat. Snuck into the back alley with a cap pulled down low and voted with the 14 others to re-elect Tom Craddick speaker in 2006. Went to an Obama rally in 2008 -- sat in VIP seating -- while he was still committed to Hillary Clinton.

There is NOTHING about this putz that is ANYTHING bu self-serving.

I don't think there's any question that he flips... IF he doesn't want to be re-elected to HD-40. If he wants to get elected to the US Congress in one of the new seats the Repukes can gerrymander for him, it makes perfect sense.

He's a moderate Republatino no matter what letter appears behind his name. The future is bleak for those in the Great State, just ask Victor Carillo.

[sonias]

2. Glad you mentioned Carillo

Don't you think that he will lose his race in the next election cycle? I mean this is the Rio Grande Valley. Hopefully he'll get a good Democrat to run against him and "retire his ass".

On a related note - the GOP just got a super majortiy anyway thanks to Allan Ritter of Nederland. For Christ's sake! Just look out for your own ass!!!

AAS 12/11/10
State Rep. Ritter switching to GOP

State Rep. Allan Ritter of Nederland said Saturday he will switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party, giving Republicans 99 seats in the Texas House.

An open seat in Seguin will likely be filled by a Republican, which means the GOP will control two-thirds of the seats in the chamber.

:mad:

[sonias]

3. South Texas lawmaker may switch to GOP

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2010/12/11/south_texas_lawmaker_may_switc.html">AAS 12/10/10
South Texas lawmaker may switch to GOP

(snip)
While switching parties could give Pena a greater role in the upcoming legislative session —- and it would give Republicans another coveted Hispanic seat in the Legislature — it could make re-election quite difficult for him. His home county is deeply Democratic.

:shrug:

[Melissa G]

4. I hope his deeply democratic base protests their disgust and protests loudly.

It was written on the wall that someone was going to be bought for a supermajority. Of, course they were going to try to spend their money on a Latino- a 2/fer for redistricting. It's understandable that they would go shopping, what is sad is any of our people falling for their line of crap.

When will we ever learn? :shrug:

[sonias]

5. Unfortunately we have to stand him for 2 years

Until the next election cycle. It's going to be disgusting. :puke:

I hope the Valley Democrats give him lots of shit in the meantime!

[PDittie]

6. If Straus (or Paxton) makes him chairman of Elections

then he'll be the guy carrying the Voter ID legislation through the House. Ask Pete Gallego or Trey Martinez Fisher how they feel about that one. My guess is that's heat even El Renegado Gordo can't fade.

But again, he won't be running again in HD-40. He's running for Congress in 2012 in one of the new seats especially gerrymandered for him.

[PDittie]

7. Rio Grande Guardian today

Lots of revealing info but take this as it applies to my previous post:

As a member of the House Committee on Redistricting, Peña has been advocating for a Hidalgo based congressional district. Peña knows that he probably wouldn't be able to foster enough support to beat out state Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. or his son, state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, in the primary race for the congressional seat. The Lucios are hometown favorites, but suffer from many of the same symptoms of South Texas Democrats. If Peña wants keep moving up as a political figure, his best bet is to switch sides, taking some voters with him and gaining the support (and money) of Hidalgo Republicans. So you can see now why the Republican Party looks pretty sexy.

http://www.riograndeguardian.com/columns_story.asp?story_no=5

[sonias]

8. Thanks for that link - great read

The paragraph right above your quoted one.

But what Peña fails to consider are both the uniqueness of the situation in Corpus Christi and the actual numbers from districts in South Texas that show a very different story. Hispanics are not coming out to vote, period. And the ones that do still tend to lean left. More importantly, Democrats across the state, Hispanic or not, have lost reason to be excited about their candidates. South Texas in particular is in need of true democratic leadership, which brings us to the real reason Peña is considering the flip: there is no room at the top.

Help us if he really does get elected to Congress as a repbulican from the RGV. :puke:

[Horse with no Name]

9. Check his bank account. n/t

[douglas9]

10. Top Valley Republican meets privately with Rep. Peña

McALLEN, Dec. 13 - After meeting privately with state Rep. Aaron Peña in McAllen on Monday, Hidalgo County Republican Party Chair Javier Villalobos says he is convinced the Edinburg Democrat is about to flip and join the GOP.

“I think he will join us,” Villalobos said. “We Republicans welcome him and we congratulate him on his courage.”

Villalobos said the meeting took place at the home of a mutual friend in McAllen and lasted about 30 minutes. He did not want to give out the location. Asked if he thought Peña would soon announce he was joining the Republicans, Villalobos said: “I will be very surprised if he didn’t.”

Peña started the ball rolling on his defection with a hard-hitting critique of the Texas Democratic Party in the pages of the Guardian eight days ago. He said a growing percentage of Hispanics are shifting over to the Republican Party in part because the Democratic Party no longer reflects their values.

http://www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp?story_no=21

[sonias]

11. Courage my ass

It's simply self serving - "what's in it for me type of attitude"! :puke:

[sonias]

12. What a Supermajority Means in the Texas House

Texas Tribune 12/14/10
What a Supermajority Means in the Texas House

When Nederland's Allan Ritter — the last of a band of conservative, rural Anglo Democrats in the Texas House, switches parties today — he'll give the Republicans a supermajority that lets them do anything they want.

That's literally true, even if it's not always practical. With a two-thirds majority, the Republicans will have the votes to suspend the rules that govern and restrict House business and the numbers to keep working even if the Democrats take a walk.

That would have been handy a couple of times in the last decade. At the end of the 2009 legislative session, for instance, the Democrats in the minority slowed House business to a near standstill by using the rules to drag out consideration of a long list of bills. That particular trick is known as "chubbing," and it has an effect similar to a Senate filibuster. The legislation they were working to block moved way back. Hundreds of other measures never got considered because of the chubbers. Had the Republicans been in possession of 100 votes, they could have suspended the rules that made that possible and hurried along their way to voter ID — the bill that got the chub-a-thon going.

In May 2003, House Democrats left the state to block a redistricting vote they thought was unfair. They had sufficient numbers to deny the House a quorum, defined in the Constitution as 100 members. Should they become nostalgic for Ardmore, Okla., the Democrats will travel knowing that House business will continue without them. They no longer have the 51 folks it takes to stop House business.

:cry::cry:

[Vogon_Glory]

13. I'm Still Angry At The Non-Voters

Sonia, I'm still angry at the non-voters. I agree with an earlier post of yours; I feel the non-voters in so many districts that had Democratic representatives before this horrible election are almost as much at fault for what's going to happen during the next two years (And all too likely for at least a decade after) as the dyed-in-the-wool, unthinking, vicious reactionaries who voted for the Texas GOP.

This is twice I've been through this cycle: once in 1994 when Ann Richards was defeated and again in 2002. I'm not getting any younger and I'm really feeling discouraged about the likelihood of the no-shows to wise up, turn out, and for-gosh-sakes VOTE!

I may be able to do campaign work again in 2012. But right now I'm still so bewildered and angry at the no-shows that it's best for the county and state Democratic Party that I don't talk to them myself.

You know, in some parts of the world, if the local politicos were plotting to do to the general populace what the Texas Republicans are getting ready to do to less-prosperous Texans and Texans of color, folks would be out in the street in force banging pots and pans and shouting angry slogans, tearing up roadways and building road-blocks of burning tires, and not curled up and taking a prolonged nap like our prize all-star apathetic "kick-me-I'm-stupid" non-voters.

:argh:

:grr:

:dem:

[sonias]

14. I'm pretty pissed too at the non-voters

But that doesn't take away my anger at the two turn coats who are giving the Texas Republicans a super majority to run all over the rest of us. Especially Pena who represents a lot of very poor people in the Rio Grande Valley! I'm beginning to feel depressed too about our chances of ever catching up again.

Man Man blog 12/14/10
The defectors

It was announced today that two recently elected Demorcatic Texas House members Aaron Pena of Hidalgo County and Allen Ritter (somewhere in East Texas) will stand with the Republicans when the legislature convenes in January. The two Democrat “Bendict Arnolds” will be giving the majority Republicans a “super” majority of 101 members ( super majority is 100) meaning the Texas Republican House members can do pretty much whatever the hell they want. Just in case you don’t know what that means, it takes a real sucky situation and turns it into a nightmarish reality.

THEY CAN AND WILL

* Gerrymander the state districts to give the Republicans even more of an unfair advantage for next 10 years of elections
* Continue to disembowel the state education system
* Eliminate funding for critical Health and Mental Healthcare programs
* require special identification for voters ( driving away mostly democrats from the polls)

:mad:

[NoPasaran]

15. It's a done deal: Ritter and Pena are both rats who jumped ship

"If you don't have a seat at the table, you may be on the menu," Peña joked as he announced his change in party affiliation, which had been rumored since last weekend.

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/party-switchers-claim-2-more-texas-house-seats-1122226.html

Fuck you with a rusty garden tool, Aaron!

[Vogon_Glory]

17. They Might Pay For Their Treachery with Their Political Careers

Either Mr. Ritter or Mr. Peña may pay for turning their coats with their political careers in a Republican Party primary before too long. I noticed that while the first string of turncoats like Rick Perry and Phil Gramm were able to turn colors without consequence, later turncoats as often found themselves being targeted by hard-right activists and ideologues either for not being "true conservatives" or for being so-called "RINOs." It was with amusement (bitter-tasting but still amusing) to see some of the Central Texas party-jumpers being whupped in Republican Party primaries because they either didn't leave the Democratic Party when it was CPC (Conservative Politically Correct) to do so (usually during Ronald Reagan's first term) or because they didn't toe the hard-right political agenda down to the last jot and tittle.

If one or the other of these birds gets what's likely to happen to them, I won't cry any tears.

:evilgrin:

[douglas9]

16. Maybe Ricky Will Promote Him to General Now

Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, on Sunday, May 31, was commissioned as a major in the Texas State Guard during a swearing-in ceremony held on the floor of the House of Representatives.

The Edinburg attorney, 50, is using his legislative and legal skills as a Staff Judge Advocate serving in the Command Headquarters in Austin, helping protect the rights of members of the state’s military forces, including the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. The mission of the Texas State Guard is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies, such as hurricanes, as well as to participate in homeland security and community service missions. Major General Chris Powers administered the oath for the commission directed by Governor Perry and the Adjutant General. Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio and Brigadier General Raymond Peters joined Peña, his wife, Mónica, and his grandson, Anthony, during the formal event.

http://www.edinburgpolitics.com/2009/07/27/edinburg-doctors-hospital-begin-negotiations-on-planned-14-million-medical-conference-center/

Pena is always referred to as an attorney. Can anyone find his bar card number here? I can't.

http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&Template=/CustomSource/MemberDirectory/Search_form_client_main.cfm

[sonias]

18. Don't they have to pay dues to be listed?

I don't know for sure, but I thought you did.

Anyway Errant Pena has much bigger aspirations than being a General in the National Guard of Texas. I think PDittie is right. He's holding out for a Congressional District drawn to suit a person from the Rio Grande Valley.

This point attributed to Pena is laughable.

Texas Tribune 12/14/10
Aaron Peña Explains Decision to Join GOP Party
(snip)
Peña also says he has been disappointed by the Obama administration's approach to border issues, which he repeatedly refers to as a "failure."

Oh and bushie did such a good job you're ready to throw your lot in with "the build a bigger wall" types. And with your now party brother State Rep. Leo Berman who is a racist. And he doesn't care if you are a born in the U.S. citizen - your kind is just inferior to him. So go ahead Pena, keep up the "good work" for the people in your district. :sarcasm:

[douglas9]

19. Dues? Don't think so. They list dead and disbarred attorneys n/t

[douglas9]

20. Correct Name: L.Aaron Pena Jr.(Administrative Suspension)

Not Eligible To Practice In Texas (click for detail)


Administrative Suspension
This attorney has been suspended by the State Bar of Texas for an Administrative reason. The suspension may be the result of one or more of the following:
Failure to pay Inactive or Active Membership Dues
Failure to pay Attorney Occupational Tax
MCLE requirements non-compliance
Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Default
Failure to pay Child Support
Failure to take A Guide To The Basics Of Law Practice course
For more information, please contact the State Bar of Texas Membership department at [phone] ext. 1383


http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=182322


Anybody care to venture a guess which one applies?

[sonias]

21. Failure to pay dues

Most likely.

[WolverineDG]

22. dues or tax

maybe both. not a biggie. the paperwork is a bitch, with checks needing to go 2 different places & if you send them to the wrong place, they don't send them back, nor do they let you know of the mistake until someone looks you up on the bar website & sees a red dot next to your name instead of green.

dg

[douglas9]

23. L. Aaron Pena, Jr., 41, of Edinburg accepted a public reprimand on July 27, 2000

Anyone have any background?

http://www.law.uh.edu/Libraries/ethics/attydiscipline/2001/03da2001.html

[WolverineDG]

25. Jesus, that was over 10 years ago

has he been disciplined since?

dg

[douglas9]

24. Mandatory (integrated) bar (Texas)

Mandatory (integrated) bar

Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia require membership in the state's bar association to practice law there.<9> This practice is called a having a Mandatory, Unified or Integrated Bar.

In Texas, for example, the "State Bar of Texas" is an agency of the judiciary and is under the administrative control of the Texas Supreme Court.<10> The State Bar of Texas is composed of those persons licensed to practice law in Texas, and each such person is required by law to join the State Bar by registering with the clerk of the Texas Supreme Court.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admission_to_the_bar_in_the_United_States

[WolverineDG]

26. asshat

bet there's a lot of pissed off Dems in Hidalgo county right about now. I think I went to high school with this guy, or his brother. Small world.

The Bar website lists all attorneys who have been admitted to practice in Texas, even the dead ones. That way, the judges can check up on you to see if you've paid your dues or not. :)

dg