Democrats stay away from Texas House, too

[JayS]

July 29, 2003, 12:19PM
Democrats stay away from Texas House, too
By CLAY ROBISON and JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2016391



AUSTIN -- The legislative work stoppage expanded today when most Democratic members of the House failed to show up for work on the second day of the second special session on congressional redistricting.

Several Republican House members also were absent.

*SNIP*

In the House, only about 90 of its 150 members were present at today's scheduled starting time, and 100 are needed for a quorum. Those present voted to issue a call ordering members to either come in or be brought in. Speaker Tom Craddick instructed the sergeant-at-arms to begin searching for and rounding up missing members.

*SNIP*

[lcordero]

1. I don't blame them for not showing up, it's probably a nice day so why

waste it getting nothing done at the office:)

[GainesT1958]

2. If it weren't for all those forest fires...

I'd suggest to them that they join Bill Richardson in Albuquerque this time! :eyes:

It's a heartening thing, indeed, to see how strident they all are in defying Satan--er, Tom Delay :evilgrin: !

Keep KICKIN' 'em, you Texas Democratic Legislators! :kick:

B-)

[w4rma]

3. "...checking into a Marriott Pyramid North in Albuquerque."

...
In May, 52 House Democrats road-tripped, most of them by bus, to the Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Okla., to kill House action on redistricting. True to tradition, the senators took a more upscale approach to interstate flight, traveling on two private jets and checking into a Marriott Pyramid North in Albuquerque.

The impact was the same: legislative gridlock.

In Albuquerque, Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin, said he packed enough T-shirts to last awhile.

"This group is united in availing ourselves of the tool granted to us by our Texas Constitution to break a quorum of the Senate," he said. "It's not about Democrats. We think it is about democracy."

"We are going to try to use common sense and take it day by day," he said when asked how long the senators could remain out of town.

The Democrats on the lam were greeted as heroes by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat who was named Monday as chairman of his party's 2004 national convention.

"This is a wonderful time of the year to visit the Land of Enchantment," he said. "New Mexico has a long history of helping people on the run, and should these legislators decide to stay awhile, I will be proud to have them."

Richardson accused the Texas GOP leadership and majority of putting "undue political pressure to force these legislators to succumb to political manipulation."

The pressure has come from the highest places, including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land and Karl Rove, President Bush's top political adviser.
...
http://www.statesman.com/legislature/content/coxnet/texas/legislature/0703/0729redist.html

[aquart]

4. I wanted to send Gov. Richardson an email but it seems to be down.

So I sent this to the Lt. Governor:

"I see the governor's email is down.

Could you tell him thank you for me? For greeting the Texas Dems so warmly, and for protecting them?

Tell him I hope he has a speech at the convention so I can hear more from him.

And could you pass a message to the Texas Dems, too?

Tell them they're standing so tall, I can see them from here, 32 blocks from Ground Zero, and they look gorgeous."

[Hand]

5. Here's to ya...

Kick butt, Killer D's! You ROCK!

:toast: :party: :loveya:

[ChickMagic]

6. I just sent a letter to Tom Craddick

Here 'tis:

Dear Mr. Craddick:

I would like to know when, exactly, our free and great State of Texas became a police state. Did it happen when you, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Governor collectively decided not to take NO for an answer? As the average Texan views the situation, the Democrats are standing up for us, their constituents - which, if I remember my civics lessons, they are supposed to do.

Arresting our state legislators and putting them under lock and key violates the only recourse they have to look out for us. But perhaps that is what you want. Surely, as an elected official, you wouldn't simply railroad a bill on the order of Tom DeLay (or even Mr. Bush) since they speak (with forked tongue) about states' rights.

I simply can't believe that the leaders would be willing to spend $1.7 million each time a special session is called. Do you not remember the $10 billion budget crunch? How many children could be provided health care with that money that were turned away because of the crushing state deficit?

This is reprehensible. Let the Democrats represent us without fear of becoming political prisoners. I'm sorely tempted to get the UN involved in this. I won't, but they've gotten involved in similar situations in the past.

Sincerely, really sincerely,
Virginia Barnett

I'm on a roll. I sent flowers to the Marriot, I called the Marriot, I wrote to Rick the Rat Perry, I called Rick the Rat's office and now this. I think one can assume that I'm riled up. :mad:

on edit: I just called David Dewhurt's office too. Man, oh man, I am furious!