(TX Dem) Senators say some losing money, some missing family while away(at $159/night Marriott)

Fort Worth Startlegram/Les Miserables ^ | 7/30/03 | The usual liars at the AP

[Diddle E. Squat]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Texas Democratic senators who fled to New Mexico to block a GOP-pushed redistricting bill said Wednesday their self-imposed exile carries financial and personal costs.

Each of the 11 senators is paying for his or her stay in Albuquerque, said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

The senators can use their own money or their campaign office holder accounts to pay for the trip. If they use their campaign accounts, their spending will be a matter of public record, Van de Putte said.

"I've got three kids in college. I will hold out as long as I can on personal funds, but I may have to use some campaign funds," she said.

Rooms at the Marriott Pyramid North, where the senators are staying, start at $159 per night. The Democrats have said they are prepared to stay for the duration of the current 30-day special legislative session if necessary to prevent a quorum and block redistricting.

"We had to be ready and have the support of our families, because while we're here, I'm not working in a pharmacy in San Antonio," Van de Putte said. "Each senator had to make that decision, but yes, it is a tremendous financial burden."

Sen. John Whitmire of Houston said the trip to New Mexico is "a tremendous inconvenience."

"We have health issues among us, we have new babies among us," Whitmire said. "We would prefer to be in our hometowns."

Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, who had a heart attack earlier this summer, said Wednesday he was on his way to an Albuquerque hospital to get his blood pressure checked and to talk to a cardiologist. Lucio said he feels good physically, but that he misses home.

"I miss my family," he said. "I miss my grandchildren."

Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston has a newborn daughter. Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston has a new grandchild.

Ellis said he hoped he could find a camp that his older children can attend in New Mexico so he will be able to see them while he's out of Texas.

Sen. Royce West of Dallas had signed up for a continuing legal education test offered only once a year. West said he paid $1,500 in advance for the test being offered Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C., but that he is giving that up to stay in New Mexico.

[Diddle E. Squat]

They claim that they are paying for their hotel rooms themselves, claim to be facing great financial hardship, yet they choose an expensive hotel for a 30-day stay? Yeah, they sure are sacrificing and roughing it.

But of course the reality is that they will be reimbursed for this runaway either above or under the table.

[Diddle E. Squat]

OK Meek, do your ping...

[So Cal Rocket]

Well, BOO... Freeping... HOO

[boomop1]

They aren't losing sh**, they are being compensated you bet your arse on that.

[Grig]

Translation Time:

losing money = unable to collect bribes
missing family = can't afford another hooker or porn flic

[tiamat]

I notice they aren't staying at a "Super 8" or a "Motel 6", either.

Spoilt.

Tia

[abclily]

The logic of running away from your legislative responsibilities to another state escapes me. Can someone explain?

[BigBobber]

Hopefully, Texas law also allows docking their pay and benefits when they are out of state during session.

[oldtimer]

Don't you know that the slimey trial lawyers are taking care of their boys.

[LibKill]

The traitor dems are all cordially invited to kiss my @ss.

[Dane]

Rooms at the Marriott Pyramid North, where the senators are staying, start at $159 per night.

This has probably been in the planning since the special session was called. They probably got a group rate. The reporter should call up the Marriott and ask to talk to the group sales manager to see what the real rate is.

I highly doubt they are paying the rack rate, but what the hey it makes a good boo-hoo story for them and their symapathizers in the press.

[CyberAnt]

Where's the picture of that crying baby - that just seems to fit this situation.

[mtbopfuyn]

Van de Putte said, I will hold out as long as I can on personal funds, but I may have to use some campaign funds.

I guess she can use her campaign funds any way she wants but I don't think that's what it was donated for. She also claims they've agreed to give up their per diem but I'm not holding my breath I'm not going to be presented with the bill. Heck, I'm already not getting my money's worth by having all these RATS running out on their responsibilities and failing the Texas citizens. Any other employee would get their butts fired toot sweet if they pulled such.

[Recourse]

Good article. Got enough keywords?

[jagrmeister]

My job's getting a little tough...maybe I'll run away from it, perhaps cross state lines so they can't catch me. That's the Democrat way isn't it?

[KantianBurke]

LOL!!

[SwinneySwitch]

CHICKENDUMBS!!

[FlyVet]

I notice they aren't staying at a "Super 8" or a "Motel 6", either.

LOL, you read my mind perfectly.

[TheSpottedOwl]

My email to the Lt Governor of Texas:
Blasted Democrats running to New Mexico(subject)

Sir,
I've always had a lot of respect for Texas, but if you let those weasels get away with hiding in a motel in New Mexico, you'll lose everyone's respect.

I'm sure you have heard about the recall in progress in California. I'm a supporter in that recall, and so are most of the people I know. There has to be something you all can do to punish those lawbreakers and set an example. We're pissed off at Davis, and you can bet your constituents are pissed off at the little weasels running and hiding instead of doing their job. Tell me, are the taxpayers footing the bill for their hotel rooms and food/drinks????????? Kick their butts Texas style!!

Sorry about the rant...

xxxxx

They're all weasels! My aBlasted Democrats running to New Mexico

Sir,
I've always had a lot of respect for Texas, but if you let those weasels get away with hiding in a motel in New Mexico, you'll lose everyone's respect.

I'm sure you have heard about the recall in progress in California. I'm a supporter in that recall, and so are most of the people I know. There has to be something you all can do to punish those lawbreakers and set an example. We're pissed off at Davis, and you can bet your constituents are pissed off at the little weasels running and hiding instead of doing their job. Tell me, are the taxpayers footing the bill for their hotel rooms and food/drinks????????? Kick their butts Texas style!!

Sorry about the rant...

xxxx

[Hebrews 11:6]

Why not keep this going through, say, December 26th?

[South40]

I read your post and was going to post the crying baby for you. I searched Google for Democratic Seal

Too, too funny.

[MistrX]

It will not cost them one thin dime. The citizens of Texas will be picking up the tabs, and that includes bar tabs.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Ummm, it was the darn pop ups :(

They're getting worse as the days go by....

[mathluv]

How can they use campaign funds to pay for this?

[Bubba_Leroy]

I sure hope the Governor calls another special session to begin the day after this one ends ... and another after that ... and another after that.

Lets see just how long the demonRATs are willing to spend holed up in a hotel in New Mexico.

[Williams]

This is what democrats will bring to our country. There cannot even remotely be an argument for legislators hiding out in another state to thwart the legislative process and avoid their duties as state representatives. Yet the liberals will defend the indefensible.

I guess the next step will be abducting the Republican legislators so the democrats can have a majority again. The poor democrats would then face legal jeopardy.

[alwaysconservative]

I don't understand; what action did the Governor and the Republicans take to stop the (worthless, non-working, shiftless) Dems from going on another joyride at taxpayer expense? Wasn't there some talk about having the legislators kept under surveillance, or at least about locking the doors and keeping them there? Geez, the Republicans MUST be the stupid party to let the Dems get away with this yet again!

[mathluv]

They left during a break - before this special session had been ended. They left on a rumor from aides that Gov Perry would gavel the end of the first session at 3pm and call a second special session to start in 30 min.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Honestly I don't know what the Republicans could do. I've never seen anything like this in my adult life.

[Kuksool]

What a bunch of phonies! They're trying to portray themselves as folk heroes who are making big sacrifices for the "little people". For the evading their responsibilities as legislators, these TX RATS ought to have their political seats forfeited.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Word is that the Dems got a cell phone call tipping them off that Perry was about to call the second SS, with a lockdown.

So was the leak from:

1) a mole inside Perry or Dewhurst's office,
2) intentional(they wanted the Dems to run),
3) a Dem sympathizer who saw Dewhurt exit Perry's office and made a lucky guess about what was about to happen
4) someone on the GOP side against the current maps(someone connected to Bill Ratliff)

[South40]

What can Republicans do?

Article 3, Section 10 of the Texas State Constitution reads:

Article 3- LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT Section 10 - QUORUM; ADJOURNMENTS FROM DAY TO DAY; COMPELLING ATTENDANCE

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.

As you can see, there is nothing that states disgruntled members can vacate to another state to avoid a quorum. It does state, however, and quite clearly that a smaller number can COMPEL THE ATTENDANCE OF ABSENT MEMBERS.

So what are the potential penalties?

Texas democrats had better consider the very real options available to Texas Republicans.

The most radical would be for Governor Rick Perry to declare the seats of the absconding dems vacant and call a special election to fill them. Though I'll admit, that's not likely to happen.

A second option, and one far more likely, would be for the House Speaker to strip committee chairmanships from the absentee dems. Depriving them of their chairmanships would turn them into political geldings. A fitting reprisal, I would agree.

A third possibility could be the dems being penalized by not having their bills brought up for votes, ala Senate Obstructionist Extraordinaire, tom dasshole.

I say go for the jugular.

[scab4faa]

[Diddle E. Squat]

Naw, I think Perry and Dewhurst are playing this pretty smart. Staying professional, not escalating too fast, avoiding overreaction, while still holding the trump card: the upcoming special session on school finance reform. In tomorrow's papers will be a mention that Dewhurst has appointed school finance committees. Some of the appointees are runaway Democrat Senators, so if they want to have input, they'll have to come back. Perry has already said that he will call an SS this fall or next year to deal with school finance, so it is looking like the next SS will be called for school finance. All they have to do is roll redistricting over into that SS, and put it as the first item on the agenda.

The current Dewhurst school finance proposal involves a 50% cut in property taxes(but made up with a hike in sales taxes). That might not be the way to go, but a potential 50% prop. tax reduction is darn sure going to catch the attention of nearly every homeowner in Texas. So then the pressure on the Dems to return and the political costs if they don't multiplies substantially, and will likely polarize public perception that enough is enough. Its one thing to stall redistricting, another to stall prop. tax relief after the recent big appraisal hikes.

[Gritty]

The Republicans ought to keep the Senate Session going ad ininitum.

These pr!cks can stay in exile forever, as far as I am concerned!

[alwaysconservative]

I have a suggestion: The governor of Texas announces that he will NOT extradite criminals apprehended in Texas to any state that knowingly harbors legislative fugitives without agreeing to return them (for starters), and will not honor any interstate commerce agreements so long as the neighboring states continue to flout Texas laws. Tell the nation (and especially the fecal matter in NM and OK) that if other states don't honor Texas laws in the name of politics, Texas won't give full faith and credit to the laws of other states either. Secondly, I would post the daily "wages" and perks of the missing legislators, with a breakdown of what this extra session is costing taxpayers for someone who refuses to show up for work. It isn't funny when people abuse their positions in this manner for the sake of a temper tantrum. How incredibly juvenile. (/rant)

[Paleo Conservative]

I've always had a lot of respect for Texas, but if you let those weasels get away with hiding in a motel in New Mexico, you'll lose everyone's respect.

It's really simple. If the DemocRATS don't return, Governor Perry will call a third special session, and Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst will suspend the 2/3rds rule. It really doesn't matter what stunts the DemocRATS try to pull, redistricting will eventually pass.

[writmeister]

Unfortunately, we don't have a recall provision in Texas.

[RS]

"West said he paid $1,500 in advance for the test being offered Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C., but that he is giving that up to stay in New Mexico."

Is the test on Geography ? ( Hint - Wasington D.C. is not a part of Texas )

[Diddle E. Squat]

Good catch.

[solo gringo]

The money cost is a tip of the iceburg.They will be looking for a job after the next election.Texan are tired of a groupe of cowards that does not do the work they were hired to do good by freeloaders.

[Recourse]

I'd like to agree, but I can't. The average Texan doesn't give a hoot about redistricting. This will not factor into anyone's voting. If anything, it hurts Perry & Dewhurst among the fervent Republicans, as it illustrates their total ineptitude in handling this issue. They have stolen defeat from the jaws of victory.

[mathluv]

I like #2, and #4, especially #4. But I don't know, I just read it on another thread.

[mathluv]

I like your thoughts, but it is the Senate this time, not the House.

[South40]

I stand corrected. Thanks!

[potlatch]

Here are some possibilities!

[lowbridge]

"We had to be ready and have the support of our families, because while we're here, I'm not working in a pharmacy in San Antonio," Van de Putte said.

So, you put your party politics above your job, huh? (And you know perfectly well that you and your party are in the wrong here) Cry me a river.

Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, who had a heart attack earlier this summer, said Wednesday he was on his way to an Albuquerque hospital to get his blood pressure checked and to talk to a cardiologist. Lucio said he feels good physically, but that he misses home.

"I miss my family," he said. "I miss my grandchildren."

So, you put your party and it's wrongful position above your own health, family and grandchildren, huh? You're a real prize.

Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston has a newborn daughter. Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston has a new grandchild. Ellis said he hoped he could find a camp that his older children can attend in New Mexico so he will be able to see them while he's out of Texas.

Get your priorites straight. Family first.

Sen. Royce West of Dallas had signed up for a continuing legal education test offered only once a year. West said he paid $1,500 in advance for the test being offered Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C., but that he is giving that up to stay in New Mexico.

So, you sacrificed your education in order to obey your party in violating Texas Constitution, your oath of office, and just plain out common decency, huh? Save your woe for someone who cares.

[WKB]

Bless their little hearts

[potlatch]

Sorry, I meant to lead you to post # 32

[.cnI redruM]

Squat-Miester,

What do they expect? TDY Pay?