Redistricting stalled again by House Democrats' walkout

[Nottingham]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/2151746

Redistricting stalled again by House Democrats' walkout
Associated Press

AUSTIN -- Texas Republicans' hopes of adopting a new congressional map have been pushed back by yet another Democratic walkout.

Although the House passed a compromise bill on the redistricting plan Friday, Senate Republicans refused to vote on it later in the day until the House passed an unrelated measure.

When word of the Senate plan began to spread, most House Democrats bolted before a vote on the other bill was called -- banking on enough Republicans leaving town for the Texas-Oklahoma football game to break quorum.

After attempts to round up the fleeing lawmakers failed, the House ultimately adjourned until Sunday afternoon.

more.....

Oh this is Hillarious :bounce:

[maxanne]

1. yay

how much more transparent could the motivations of the Republicans be? I kept hearing on the news the other day that the House Republicans had reached an agreement about the redistricting - as if they were the only party involved.

It's time for all Democrats to speak up LOUD about the Republican agenda in Texas.

[Nottingham]

2. I hope Everybody enjoys the Game!

Baaawaaahaaa :bounce:

[niyad]

3. the absolute arrogance of the tx repulses is almost

beyond belief. Apparently they are just trying to wear people out, and hope that everyone will get tired of fighting them.

Transparent is right, and I am wondering why there isn't more outrage about this highhanded attempt to subvert democracy.

[hang a left]

4. Between the black box voting machines and the

redistricitng. There won't be a democrat left in that state. Pray for Texas. I can't believe this is America anymore.

[bearfan454]

7. I'm still here and I will fight these pieces of sh!t all the way to the

end.

[wtmusic]

5. Laughing stock of the world

Welcome to America, Where Not Everyone is Six Years Old, They Just Act Like It

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

6. It was the Republicans that broke Quorum

according the the Statesman.

<http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/texas/legislature/1003/1011redistrict.html>

By Laylan Copelin

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, October 10, 2003

The Legislature did its best to keep Austin weird Friday.

After fighting Democrats for six months, the state's Republican leadership began the day without enough Senate Republicans to pass the new congressional map. Then, after hours of delay and more intraparty fighting, the House GOP leadership locked its doors and ordered absent members rounded up because there weren't enough members to consider an unrelated bill that the Senate insisted be passed before it would vote on redistricting.

Just before 11 p.m., the House gave up on finding enough members and adjourned until Sunday afternoon. A little later, the Senate also adjourned until Sunday.

"This is a cat-and-mouse game," Rep. John Mabry, D-Waco, said of his Republican colleagues trying to navigate their own differences.

The Democrats had been the ones holding up a new map, but on Friday the Republicans found the last-minute obstacles within their own party.

The House approved the new congressional boundaries 76-58. And after a daylong debate, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst rallied enough Senate Republicans to support the map.

Then the redistricting flap, already the victim of two Democratic walkouts over the past six months, took another detour.

Although both chambers voted to delay next year's primaries by a week, moving them to March 9, Senate Republicans postponed a vote on redistricting for several hours until the House members could vote on House Bill 7, a government reorganization proposal that strips key powers from Republican Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

The standoff underscored the level of mistrust between the Senate and House and the two Republicans who direct them.

Dewhurst said Speaker Tom Craddick had repeatedly given him his word that the House would pass House Bill 7.

"As Ronald Reagan used to say, 'Trust, but verify,' " Dewhurst said.

The House couldn't take a vote on the reorganization bill until 8 p.m. because of internal legislative rules. By that time, there were only 88 members there, not enough to conduct business. Unlike the last time the House didn't have enough members, the ranks of the absent included Democrats and Republicans.

.
.
.


The last paragraph says it all. I suspect the Chronicle of being pro
redistricting and fudged the story to blame the dems yet again.

[Dover]

17. I'm not sure I understand. Are Craddick and Dewhurst in opposition

on Strayhorn's power issue? It's unclear to me from this story.
It's also unclear if they are saying the Republicans couldn't be rounded up because they were split on this issue or some other reason.

Strayhorn's son is Bush's press secretary. I wonder what Strayhorn, or her son, might do. They certainly seem to be turning on each other. Delay seems to have attempted to get his entire wish list by waiting until the last minute of the session and strongarming everyone. But will it stick?

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Some Dems have backbones

Sure wish more Dems across the country would look to TX and stop being so spineless. Although I am a registered Dem, over the last 3 years have been lossing faith in the spinelessness of the party and its kowtowing to the evil cabal.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

9. Remember when the Republicans were blaming the Democrats...

for holding up important government business? The Democrats, of course, were trying to protect democracy, but this time it's the Republicans holding up important government business. And their excuse?

Apparently, FOOTBALL is more important!

Yes, we know how those Republicans think! Democracy is nothing, but FOOTBALL! "Bugger the redistricting plan we have been fighting for, I wanna see football!!!!"

banking on enough Republicans leaving town for the Texas-Oklahoma football game to break quorum.

And these people think they are fit to govern? And many Texans agree with them???? :eyes:

[E_Zapata]

10. and these same repukes wouldn't even flinch

at working on Christimas, while their kids were home with mom..... wouldn't even flinch, "it's for our country, joey!"

[Goldust]

22. "Apparently, FOOTBALL is more important!"

This is Texas we're talking about. You're not going to get too far with that argument :)

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. This Was Awesome

I was hoping for something exactly like this to go down!

Keep it up! Stop the Thugs from using this map in 2004!

DTH

[Spazito]

12. Here's another little tidbit on the re-districting....

Texas Aide's E-Mail Ridicules Democrats

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&e=12&u=/ap/redistricting_e_mail

Looks like someone on the inside is even getting disgusted by what's happening.

[tom_paine]

13. Hurrah! Gotta love the fight in those Texans!

:toast: :toast:

[bluestateguy]

14. They could stall this out to the end of the session

But the other side seems determined to push back the primary to September if need be to get their way.

[Shakespeare]

15. GOOD....didn't think there were any rabbits left in that hat.

Now if they can keep any of these from turning traitor like the dem state senator did....that'll be the tricky part.

[judgegina]

16. Could it be...

a 4th special session for redistricting? Oh, this is rich!

[mbperrin]

18. Yes, indeed!

There's only a few days (three or four) left in this session. (I need to look it up and get back).

Hell, what's the hurry? They could take 20 sessions,after all, the only things they're delaying are school finance and a few other unimportant issues.

But by all means, push Delay's shit to the forefront!

Never have voted for a Republican, ain't gonna start now!

Never have tried to help a Republican, ain't gonna start now!

(It IS funny that the dumb oxes can't even get along with each other!)

No offense to oxes!

[goforit]

19. I hope someone is keeping a list of their utmost stupidity!!!

I still feel another round of the Alamo would
fix their problems!!!

[Nottingham]

20. Lets go for a 4th Session....and Texas Longhorns is Majorly losing!

:bounce:

[judgegina]

21. Who will show up tomorrow?

I believe the House is scheduled to reconvene at 2pm tomorrow (Sunday), and the Senate at 6pm. Let the games continue....

[w4rma]

23. road trip to New Mexico, soon? I hope... (n/t)