Democrats flee Texas.....again.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-07-28 11:51pm

Thanks to Big Steve for showing me this:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/ ... index.html

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas on Monday for the second time in three months to thwart a Republican drive to redraw the state's congressional districts.

Eleven of the 12 Democrats in the state Senate left for Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a first special session called by the governor to address redistricting drew to a close and he called a second special session, scheduled to begin Wednesday. The second session could last as long as 30 days.

In May, during the regular spring session, the Republicans tried to push redistricting toward a vote in the GOP-controlled state House. But 51 Democrats in that chamber fled across the state line to Oklahoma to block a quorum, killing the bill.

Republicans are pressing for more seats in the state's 32-member delegation in the U.S. House; the Democrats currently hold a 17-15 advantage. Republicans say that ratio does not reflect the state's increasingly Republican voting patterns.

Most Democrats want to keep the existing congressional map drawn by a three- judge federal panel in 2001, calling redistricting a power grab pushed by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Republican.

The Senate and House adjourned their special session Monday afternoon. Shortly afterward, Republican Gov. Rick Perry called a new one.

Two-thirds of the Senate's 31 members must be present to conduct business. The absence of the 11 Democrats can hold up passage of any bill.

During the first special session, Senate Democrats were able to block a redistricting bill that could have given Republicans an additional seven seats. Eleven Democrats and one Republican stood firm against the bill.

Senate rules require that two-thirds of the chamber support a bill before it can be taken up for debate. Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has said he would do away with that rule during the second session so that only a majority would be needed to debate a bill.

Bob McDob · Post by **Bob McDob** » 2003-07-29 12:12am

Um ... is this good or bad?

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-07-29 12:31am

Bob McDob wrote:Um ... is this good or bad?

To paraphrase Ash:

"Good, Bad, I'm the one with a functioning political system..."

*snicker*

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-07-29 12:52am

Bob McDob wrote:Um ... is this good or bad?

Its setting a bad precedent

Drewcifer · Post by **Drewcifer** » 2003-07-29 01:05am

I love Texas politics. What a hoot!

My best friend is a polysci professor at a uni in west Texas, and part of every student's curriculum is a class in Texas history and politics. He dreaded it at first, but it has become one of his favorite classes to teach.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-07-29 01:11am

Is it just me, or has the Republican party taken a really weird turn in the past year or so...

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-07-29 02:17am

Vorlon1701 wrote:Is it just me, or has the Republican party taken a really weird turn in the past year or so...

Twas the Democrates who bailed out of the state.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-07-29 07:23am

gee, that's mature. if you know you cant win, just run away and hide , that way nobody wins!

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-07-29 02:14pm

basically... Not a bad tactic if you ask me...

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-07-29 02:20pm

Well seeing that Republicans can be just as childish as Democrats, I can't wait to see what happens when the Demos get in charge and put forth a bill the Repubs can't defeat with numbers.

I doubt the Dems will not find it too funny either.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-07-29 02:21pm

Knife wrote:Well seeing that Republicans can be just as childish as Democrats, I can't wait to see what happens when the Demos get in charge and put forth a bill the Repubs can't defeat with numbers.

I doubt the Dems will not find it too funny either.

democrats? you do know this is Texas we're talking about?

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-07-29 02:23pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:Is it just me, or has the Republican party taken a really weird turn in the past year or so...

Hmmmm...let's vote on having districts reflect the current politcal leanings of the state...hey wait!! Where are you going?? NEW MEXICO?! WTF?! You were voted into office to do a job fucknut not go running off to another state just because you can't take a loss....godamnit come back here!!! What did you call me?!

Yeah...it's the Republicans looking stupid in this one.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-07-30 12:24am

Col. Crackpot wrote:
Knife wrote:Well seeing that Republicans can be just as childish as Democrats, I can't wait to see what happens when the Demos get in charge and put forth a bill the Repubs can't defeat with numbers.

I doubt the Dems will not find it too funny either.
democrats? you do know this is Texas we're talking about?

Demographics change over time. Utah is a solid Republican state. I mean massively Republican. 50 years ago, it was massively Democratic.

Times change, yet the childish games politicians play don't.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2003-07-30 12:57am

20 years ago Texas, hell, the entire south, was Democratic. Now... well...

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-07-30 02:41am

Ah, I know. [Ashcroft Fantasy] Since the Nazis walked out of their Congress the Democrats must be Nazi scum. They will arrested and convin- I mean tried for treason next week. [/Ashcroft Fantasy] Our state made it illegal for gerrymandering afer Huey Long and his litlle tin pot dictatorship. He paid for it real good too. I think nowadays they have too set up a commission to remap districts based on population demographics.