Texas Republicans vote to suspend privileges of exiled Democrats

[Nambe]

Austin, Texas-AP

Texas Republicans have approved yanking parking and cell phone privileges of Democratic lawmakers who've refused to be present to consider a G-O-P redistricting plan. -

Earlier this week, Republicans imposed fines on the Democrats, which started at one-thousand dollars yesterday and are doubled for each day missed. The maximum fine is five-thousand dollars a day, with the parking and cell phone sanctions as punishment if the fines go unpaid.Democrats have said they'll ignore the fines.They say the Republican redistricting plan would damage their minority constituents' representation in Congress.

[blueseas]

1. Petty petty petty

Why am I not suprised? :eyes:

[liberalnurse]

9. What are the people of texas saying about this

harrassment? I hope they are defending their elected officials. It will take the people of Texas to protest the repugs for this to stop!

[LEFTofLEFT]

2. Their insanity is spilling out in barrels.

We must fight the rightwing monsters like the future is at stake.

IT IS !!!

They will destroy us all if we do not stop them.

[Warpy]

3. Typical

...for the mean-spirited, petty and vindictive Rethuglicans who are running this country.

That they have to stoop to this stuff shows they are impotent when it comes to a fair fight among colleagues. They need to bully.

[Fleshdancer]

4. Is Daddy Delay going to take away tv priviledges too?

I, along with thousands of other TX Democrats will be more than happy to give them a cell phone and pay for a stupid parking space. The republicans can go to hell.

[aquart]

13. I'd be perfectly happy to give the Republicans a cell.

Marion do?

[quarbis]

35. Too Good for them

Reopen Devil's Island

[0rganism]

17. What's the overall attitude in Texas?

Are Perry and DeLay regarded as heroes of democracy for this pile of redistricting crap, or are the Dems getting a reputation as "sore losermen"?

I'm curious how much y'all like being played by the GOP.

[Fleshdancer]

24. Overall attitude...

actually, it's hard to answer that. I'm in Austin and the general Austin attitude is we're pissed! We had an anti-redistricting rally last Saturday with about 5,000 people...a lot considering it's hot down here right now.

Outside of Austin though, I don't know what the attitude is. It's hard to get an accurate look when you're stuck in the middle of it all. I can't imagine Texans are all that happy about having to pay $1.7 million per special session though.

This is Texas politics. It's dirty and all the hits are taken below the belt. That's just how we fight down here. This isn't the first re-districting battle and it won't be the last.

[libtexan]

31. I live in Texas

and am extremely pissed off that the MePublicans continue their political high-jinks! The 2000 election, the Cali recall, the redistricting crap, Enron, and god knows what else they've pulled without the public's knowledge. Hopefully, this will all culminate in a massive movement away from the MePublican party. Depends on when people start waking up to the fact that we're BEING SCREWED!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I still don't understand how they can do this

since they don't have a quorum-the whole point of the Dems leaving. I'm surprised they haven't voted to replace the Dems with hand-picked GOPS from DeLay's camp.

[short bus president]

6. How are they having these votes

without a quorum?

[Trek234]

11. Because the law says

That in such event that certain members refuse to be present the remaining members can do what they want to try and bring them back.

[efhmc]

15. Please tell me where such a law is written. I am not challenging your

knowledge, I would like to know where to find that information. Thank you.

[Trek234]

19. It is in the Texas constitution

"Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide. "

[Lithos]

16. Yes and no

The constitution made provision for laws to be passed to define the penalties, but as of this time no law has been passed which means what the Pukes are doing is illegal as no quorum is present to pass these laws. The constitution basically has no teeth. You can bet this will be one of the first things addressed at the next session of the legislature.

L-

[Occulus]

18. You seem to

have a solid foundation for your comments. Can you tell us what the overall attitude of the people in Texas is re: redistricting? That is the one angle I have not heard.

If the people are apathetic, that's one thing. If they're against it, I haven't heard about it. If they actually support the redistricting plan overall.... well, it's their state. Let 'em run it.

[Rose Siding]

51. Here's a poll from July 24

Texans Oppose Redistricting; Governor's Approval Numbers Mediocre

Surveyors told respondents, "Governor Perry has called an unusual special session to change current congressional districts, although they were redrawn just two years ago," and then asked "Do you support or oppose this redistricting effort?" 45.5 percent of Texans opposed redistricting; 30 percent supported it. One in four respondents (24.5 percent) did not have an opinion.

Strongest opposition came from Democrats (70.9 percent), East Texans (55.7 percent), African-Americans (55.7 percent), Central Texans (52.5 percent), and Hispanics (51 percent). Self-identified Republicans were the only demographic group who were more likely to support than oppose the redistricting effort (47.9 percent supported, 24.8 percent opposed). Texans aged 18-34 were in a statistical tie on the issue, 36.9 percent supporting and 35.4 percent opposed.

snip>

On the Governor's job performance rating, 7.4 percent of respondents said Gov. Perry was doing an excellent job; 38.1 percent said a good job; 34.1 percent said "only fair"; and 14.5 percent said the Governor was doing a poor job. 5.8 percent had no opinion. That's an overall 45.5 percent positive, 48.6 percent negative rating. Except for a bump among Republicans (64.4 percent positive), Perry did not do particularly well among any group. He did particularly poorly among African Americans (73.4 percent negative) and Democrats (68.4 percent negative).
more.................

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=101-07232003

[Trek234]

21. Wrong

"Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide. " - Texas Constitution

Where does the Texas constitution say a "regular" statue must/may be passed to compel attendance? Or that this specific situational constitutional provision is bound by such rules as a "regular" statue? Be aware the state constitution is superior to any state statue you may quote.

The present members have the right to confer a penalty on absent members. Any penalty is *very* different than an ordinary statue the legislature may pass because:

1. It can only be directed at absent members.
2. It immediatly becomes null and void after the members return. (i.e. no more daily fines)
3. It is a unique situational legislative ability specifically allowed per the Texas constitution that does NOT require a qurom.
4. They are not passing "normal" statues. They are simply mandating penalty.

In other words these "laws" (actually a penalty) you say they are passing wrongly are not even technically "laws", and they have every right to order penalty under law.

Now the fact that the members are out of state is another matter. Rather any penalty could have force outside of the state is unlikely.

[dansolo]

34. Not laws, but rules

It is my understanding that they aren't laws, but are rules that are defined for each house. The problem is that the rules have to be voted on by the attendant members, and a quorum is still required. If there are no explicit rules in place at the time that the Democrats left, then the Republicans cannot change the rules.

[Flubadubya]

40. Rules, yeah, "statues", nah... those are in the rotunda.

Statutes are on the books.

[Lithos]

42. Correct

That is exactly how I understand it. The Constitution makes provision for the other members to enact a penalty, but these penalties have NOT been defined and require a quorum to do so. I said law because it is pretty much the same thing.

L-

[KCDem]

7. they're just jealous that CA is getting all the attention.

Stop the insanity!!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

39. what if CA recall was intwended to distract us fron TX redistricting issue

wouldn't put it past the evil rove

[arcane1]

8. I admit I'm curious to see just how far the repubes are willing to go...

getting interesting, to say the least!

[CarlBallard]

10. So let me get this straight

They can't park in Austin when the're in New Mexico?

[Gman]

41. oooooooo.... that one's gonna really hurt!

[Cha]

12. I'm surprised they haven't voted them out of the Senate.....

next they will revoke their privileges to the restrooms!

Why don't the citizens of Texas Revolt against the repugnants? :kick:

[mmm]

14. I am waiting for the straw that breaks the camel's back

.

[Guaranteed]

20. Stop waiting...we need to turn the tides....

...and take the offensive. I'm not from Texas, so I wouldn't know the current, pertinent issues for Texans, but from the statistics I've seen I HAVE noticed Texas has some problems. The Democrats need to point out that the legislature is wasting valuable time that could be used to address more pressing, and more ACTUAL problems (as opposed to districting problems). They need to come out of their corner hitting very hard.
This does not just apply to the state of Texas. I believe this is exemplatory of a problem facing most of the Democratics across the nation. We've been taking hits and not hitting back. We need to get back on the offensive. And, God dammit, we need a PLAN. We need to stop filling the role of the reactionary, and start IMPROVING on the way things are going, in a positive manner. Amazingly, this shouldn't be that difficult to do.
It's just a matter of the mentality we're taking to the floor.
It's time for some creativity, courage, and determination. The constitution of our party is not shown in the easiest times, it's shown in the hardest of times. And now will be shown the constitution of the Democratic Party.
Which is it? Are we RIGHT, or are we wrong? We all know the answer to that question.
Now let's start acting like it.

[AlGore-08.com]

38. The fight over redistricting is EXTREMELY important

What the Texa$GOP are trying to do is pass a redistricting plan that will ensure a huge Rethuglican majority - - in other words, they are trying to gerrymander the freaking state.

If the Democrats did not fight this, after an election cycle or two, there would be no non-Republicans in the state legislature, no matter how many Texans voted for other parties.

[incontrovertible]

46. jesus god man, where are you from?

the state's already gerrymandered, from the 1990 redistricting by the Democratic majority.

Honestly, do you ever travel anywhere in Texas besides Austin? When was the last time you went to, say, Brownwood? Longview? Odessa? Lubbock? Wonder what would happen if you sauntered into the local DQ and started spouting off about "RePUKEliKKKlans?"

Without even trying, I could rattle off the names of at least a dozen towns where anyone with an "Anybody But Bush" bumper sticker would be hounded out of the city limits within two hours.

[mbperrin]

50. Actually, the state was

redistricted by the courts in 2001 when Governor Goodhair didn't think it was important enough to attend to.

So as usual, when Republicans later decide they should have done something different, they just break any rule they don't like and change the ones they can think of.

Why not make these sanctions retroactive to the 1993 walkout by Senate REPUBLICANS over the issue of electing judges?

I know - Repub walkout/good; Dem walkout/bad!

[LiberalFighter]

44. I am wondering...

If the repugs can convene and pass fines without a quorum... can't the Texas Dems convene officially and pass fines against the repugs?

Do they have to convene in the Texas State House?

[incontrovertible]

45. um

Texas is overwhelmingly, stupefyingly Republican, and has been since Ann Richards outright called the citizenry morons for wanting to have a public referendum on the Concealed Weapons issue. Since they didn't get that referendum, they voted in Bush by about thirty points the first time, and like fifty points the second.

Whether the Austin islanders (of which I am one) want to face reality or not, Texas is the most conservative Republican state in the Union. If the numbers are treated accurately, the Texas delegation should, in fact, be supermajority Republican, rather than, due to the gerrymandering of 1990, majority Democrat.

There won't be any "revolt" among the Texas citizenry anytime soon. I also wouldn't expect the salvation of the Texas Democratic party to come from the Hispanic new citizenry - most of the polls I've seen put at least a plurality of the Hispanic population into the Republican camp, for both social and economic reasons.

[judgegina]

49. incontrovertible? hardly

You keep referring to the gerrymandering done by the Democrats in 1990, but those are not the lines currently in effect. The lines in place at this time were drawn by 3 judges (Republican majority) after the 2000 census. The Repubs could have pushed for a redistricting map during the 77th Legis. of 2001, but chose to gamble and let the judges draw the lines. The judges drew the lines and created Congressional districts that favored Republicans by 21 to 11. This was fine, because TX is indeed a Repub. majority state. HOWEVER, in six of those Republican majority districts, the same majority of voters who voted for Bush for president, also voted to send their incumbent Democratic rep. back to Washington D.C., thus creating the current 17 Dem.- 15 Rep. split of the Texas congressional delegation. Perhaps if the Repubs. had run better candidates in these 6 districts, they would now have a majority of the delegation. Tom DeLay and his bitch, Gov. Perry, do not respect the decisions made by the voters in those 6 districts, and they are now attempting to thwart the will of those voters.

[Boreas]

53. Sorry to have to say it

but I believe that my State of Alaska, whose entire Congressional delegation is Republican, and whose state legislature has a Republican majority, more closely resembles the most Republican State in the Union. It is a constant source of disappointment and consternation to me that this is so. Alaska was solidly Democratic for years, (Ernest Greuning, Nick Begich, Mike Gravel,) until the far, far right Christians took over the party and now even Don Young, Ted Stevens and Frank Murkowski's daughter Lisa are too far left for them. In my opinion it's the bitter taste of budding Theocratic/Corporate Fascism and a truly frightening and predictable future for anyone who isn't part of their party.

They want to change the primary designation of State Forests from multiple use to timber production, for example. They are vehemently against a rural preference for fish and game in times of scarcity. Abortion would become murder. Most of the Republican legislators are small businessmen who are solidly anti-union, anti labor, and heavily supported by business donations. You get the picture.

http://www.landrights.org/OCS/CARA.RepPartyAK.palmer.htm
http://peninsulaclarion.com/stories/111802/ala_111802alapm0020001.shtml
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_multibill.asp?session=23&subject=ABORTION

[blackcat77]

22. The Pubs are threatening to postpone the elections there...

...if they don't get a redistricting passed to their benefit.

I really think that they've reached the point where the backlash against their garbage is going to be both swift and terrible. Texans are conservative by nature, and these guys are acting like dictators -- no matter what party they are in, that won't fly...

Here's the link to the story:
http://www.statesman.com/legislature/content/coxnet/texas/legislature/0803/0815redist.html

[SoCalDem]

23. Good Grief!! Why don't the GOPers just go round up a posse

and string 'em up.. Or better yet...everybody go HOME and wait til the NEXT session....


What a bunch of crybaby losers :eyes:

[joshdawg]

25. Having converse with a few of my fellow Texans,

I have found that most of them believe this redistricting ploy by Perry and his gang of thugs is "not worthy". It is a waste of time and money that could be better spent on things like lost services, help for the elderly and the children. But items such as those are anti-Republican and therefore, Perry and his gang of thugs are not willing to address them.

[judgegina]

26. Classic from today's Austin American-Statesman:

"We don't want to penalize our colleagues," said Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, who made the motion to penalize her colleagues.

[EV1Ltimm]

27. overturning the will of the people...

the republicans are getting good at it.

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

28. Anyone know where I can Donate to support the Texas Senate Dems?

URL or phone #?

[judgegina]

29. Donate here:

<http://www.savetexasreps.com>

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

30. Thanks JG

But I was looking to donate to the families of the Texas 11.

[gully]

32. Don't you know Democrats NEVER stand up to Republicans?!

Thanks for the info!

[Flubadubya]

33. Isn't this likely to backfire on the Tex-Pugs??

How about it Texans, is there a feel for how this is being taken by the general populous? Seems so outrageous to me that it should surely reap a tremendous amount of blowback on the Thugs. Any thoughts?

[LoneStarLiberal]

47. The Tide Is Turning But We Need Another Session

There already is some backlash amongst traitorous moderate Democrats who voted for Bush and Perry as well as moderate Republicans who are concerned with fiscal conservatism.

One of the big problems here in Texas (I'll extrapolate from my region in North Texas to the rest of the state outside of Austin) is that political news on the state level receives fractional reporting outside of the Austin metro area. I live near Dallas and outside of a three minute sound bite on the news and one article or so a day in the Dallas Morning News, this is ignored by the media.

Here's my take: Between the soporific overkill with this whole blackout story that local outlets seem contractually obligated to run and the cracker jackass who was the basketball coach at Baylor, oh and Cowboys training camp, most people around here don't give a shit. Football season is almost here, Yankees are in the dark, and the crown jewel of the Southern Baptist higher education system is mired in scandal. Who has time to think about minor things like what the handful of DeLay whores that Barking Tom is pimping out in Austin are down to today?

The tide is turning, but what we really need is one more special session to be called. By this time kids across the state will be back in school and the Barking Tom's Boys, the Austin Hair Helmet (the Gov), Herr Craddick (Der Speaker), and Daffy Dewhurst (state jester...um...Lieutenant Gov) will start to roast themselves alive if they push for another session in this environment. Why? Because the Hair Helmet has stated he won't take up the issue of the boo-boo our geniuses made in the budget that is withholding around $800 million from schools. Another session would be called while kids return to schools strapped for that cash; THEN YOU HAVE AN ISSUE that the news will report on and that will fuel some wide-raning anger against Tom's Whores.

[judgegina]

36. We need to keep emphasizing the following:

9 of the Texas 11 are minorities. All of the Rethug Senators in Austin are white. The white Senators do not approve of the manner in which the minority senators have chosen to do their jobs and represent their constituents. By sanctioning and revoking the privileges of the minority senators, the white senators are disenfranchising these minority communities.

The Republicans very much want to secure a larger portion of the Hispanic vote, and it is my observation---here in Texas---that they are majorly screwing up on this matter with their redistricting shenanigans.

[Snellius]

37. Are they going to put them on double-secret probation, too?

This may even go on their permanent record.

[indypaul]

43. If past is prologue then

I expect at any moment to read that the capitol at
Austin has burned and they are blaming it on the absent
Democrats.

[BlueCollar]

48. it won't stop

Texas Democrats from standing up for what is right. I'm sure that the result so far has had an effect on party activists. The resources of the party at the state level are not that good. It would be helpful if we could get our message out at the national level after the recess...

[DeathvadeR]

52. Fuq the GOP!!!!!

They make me :puke:

[Career Prole]

54. I sent the following e-mail

to the Texas Democratic Party...

Hello,Sean!
I asked this question of a good friend named here at the Abilene Reporter News and he referred me to you. I’d like to know if there is a website set up yet for online donations directed to ameliorate the substantial financial burden the Texas Eleven have shouldered on our behalf. I already contribute to the Democratic party, but I’d like to make a directed donation to help cover their personal expenses, if possible.
To tell you the truth I think if you set the site up and we pay their bills for them on this, it’d make a pretty powerful statement to the other side.

Thanks!

I received the following in reply...

Rick,

I don’t know of any fund for the Texas 11 devoted solely to personal expenses, but the Texas Democratic Party is accepting contributions earmarked for the Texas 11 that are being used to assist with their stay in Albuquerque.
You can either donate via our website at www.txdemocrats.org or call our fundraising department at 512-478-9800. You will want to ask for Evan.
Thanks for your email and keep up the good work in the Big Country!
Sean
Sean Michael Byrne
Communications Director
Texas Democratic Party


We ran an article (I work at the paper) on the financial impact the holdout is having on our guys. Some are having to use credit cards for the exile now, and don't know how they'll pay it back.
Am I wrong on this? As long as it's legal, re: campaign finance laws and the way the repugs'll play them, wouldn't it be a huge slap in the collective republican face if the normal "Democrat on the street" ponied up and paid the fines and other expenses for the Texas 11? Just that slap in and of itself would make it worth kicking in whatever I could scrape up!
I guess it must be against the rules or they'd have set it up by now...

Just Askin',
Rick
Hell, I'd set it up myself if I knew how!