From the "It would be strange in another state, but it's just business-as-usual in the Texas Legislature" file: Police Hunt Hiding Texas Democratic Legislators
I'm just trying to imagine the look on the face of the DPS officer who took the call from the Speaker. I'll bet they're hiding out in a casino in Lake Charles or Shreveport. I mean, there's no way that Louisiana is going to arrest them and extradite them back to Texas.
New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid said lawyers for Texas Gov. Rick Perry asked her if Texas Rangers might be allowed to make arrests in New Mexico. Madrid, a Democrat, said no. "Nonetheless," she added in a statement, "I have put out an all-points bulletin for law enforcement to be on the lookout for politicians in favor of health care for the needy and against taxcuts for the wealthy." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47389-2003May12.html
I'm trying to be even-handed, and consider how I'd feel if this were GOP legislators avoiding the session to prevent, say, civil rights legislation from passing. And the fact that they're avoiding redistricting squabbles - that's just petty. That's the way the game is played, winning party picks the seats. Still, it's a very funny story, and that's what's important.
Looks like they might be in Oklahoma. http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/05/13/texas.legislature/index.html
This to be quite honest is funny stuff. The redistricting is a little crazy though. I mean from my understanding Austin isn't it's own seperate district. It got combined with San Antonio. Crazy if you ask me, and I lean conservative. With regards to the hideout in OK, I have to say that it shows just how out of touch the Democrats are with the average voter in Texas. Hiding out in Oklahoma is completely unacceptable.
Hmm from what I've read in a few of the online Texas papers (Austin American-Statesman, Dal. Morning News & Hou. Chronicle), Democrats in the Texas State Senate may have the votes to block redistricting anyway. It may not even get to the gov's desk. I'm not sure I agree with some of my fellow Dems who think that the Texas House Democrats acted "heroically" and "patriotically" but I thought it was pretty durn funny. And when I heard that the Texas Dept. Public Safety and the Rangers were after these House members, I couldn't help but think of "The Dukes of Hazzard." "Dagnabbit! Them Democrat boys has got away again!!!"
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Texas' lead law enforcement agency has asked for the public's help in the event that any of 53 wanted Texas Democratic legislators re-enter the state. The lawmakers left Austin after failing to defeat a Republican-sponsored political redistricting plan. They are currently staying in Oklahoma, absent from the state House of Representatives in violation of that body's rules. House warrants have been posted for their arrest. "The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking the public for assistance in locating 53 Texas legislators who have disappeared. Anyone who has information regarding the current whereabouts of the legislators listed below is asked to call 1-800-525-5555," the posting states. Tom Vinger, a spokesman for the Texas DPS, told CNSNews.com that, if lawmakers are found inside the state, they have no choice but to comply with the order to attend. http://conservativenews.org/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Nation\archive\200305\NAT20030513e.html This is what you get when you have a crazy constitution and a biennial legislature.
Me too. And it just goes to show you the relative intelligence level of your average legislator in this state. I mean, they're holing up in Ardmore?
You have to be salivating if you're a potential opponent of one of these clowns. They don't like the rough & tumble game of politics so they pout and run home to mommy. Pretty pathetic, even for politicians.
If it's against law, then it shouldn't happen. Otherwise, it's just another example of ugly partisan politics -- whichever side has the upper hand would try to take advantage of it. As a New Jersey resident, I still remember the switch Dems pulled last year (post-deadline no less). I am no fan of Torricelli, but he did win the primary, so he was the legitimate candidate. Just because things started to look bad for him, some party elders basically strong-armed him off the ticket and pandered to his hated rival (Lautenberg) just so to salvage a seat. That's no democracy. That's partisan politics.
Texans...how is this playing there? In my local paper, the string article (from an LA Times writer) said that independent and moderate voters are supporting the Dems.
I think it would be cool if the Texas Rangers tried to arrest the legislators but got caught in an ambush that killed all but one of the Rangers. That lone survivor could then begin wearing a mask and hunting down evil-doers across the West.
Never mind that. If you go to Shreveport or Lake Charles, you've got strip clubs AND casinos AND booze. It would be like Disneyland for your average legislator. AND what's even better, you're not in Oklahoma.
If Ardmore weren't over an hour away, I'd have half a mind to get liquored up in the Holliday Inn Bar and cause some trouble. This is absolutely pathetic. I just did a project on the Texas Redistricting Plan for 2000 and in no way does it violate any of the Primary or Secondary Principles of Redistricting, therefore it is a constitutionaly valid map. Both sides need to quit being such children. If I were from Texas, I'd be ashamed. Being from Oklahoma, I'm ashamed they ran to here. But I did like the comment our Governor, Brad Henry made about the only time we want a fight with Texas is on the football field.
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/5858118.htm "One federal agency that became involved early on was the Air and Marine Interdiction and Coordination Center, based in Riverside, Calif. -- which now falls under the auspices of the Homeland Security Department. The agency received a call to locate a specific Piper turboprop aircraft. It was determined that the plane belonged to former House Speaker Pete Laney, D-Hale Center. " The GOP (read DeLay) called in the Dept of Homeland security to track them. That should scare people.