Posted on 08/27/2003 5:42:27 AM PDT by Dog Gone
ALBUQUERQUE — Claiming there's a plot to arrest them, the Senate Democrats abruptly cancelled their plans to return to Texas today for a court hearing in Laredo.
As many as seven of the 11 Democrats who killed congressional redistricting by fleeing the state had planned on attending a hearing today on their lawsuit in federal court.
But Democratic consultant Harold Cook said the group cancelled the trip after the Democrats obtained "credible evidence" that Gov. Rick Perry intended on calling another special session and "deputized officials" would try to detain the senators.
Cook did not say what the evidence was, but said a Republican senator advised his Democratic colleague not to return to Texas today.
"They haven't come this far just to get caught," Cook said.
The senators were expected to board a private jet about 5:30 a.m. this morning, but they cancelled the flight after a late-night meeting that ended shortly before midnight.
"I know of nothing like that," Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said this morning of the scenario laid out by the Democrats.
"The Governor has made no secret of the fact that he will call a third special session at the appropriate time."
Perry, who will be in Houston today, has not said when it might be appropriate or whether that call could come as soon as today.
The 11 senators fled Texas July 28, denying the Senate a quorum to conduct business.
Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other Republican leaders are pressing for new congressional districts to increase the Republican seats in the Texas congressional delegation. The 11 Senate Democrats, including nine minorities, say redistricting will harm minority voting rights.
The Democrats filed suit in federal court in Laredo. They claim Dewhurst would harm minorities with his decision to drop a Senate tradition requiring two-thirds of the Senate to agree to debate a bill.
Under that tradition, 11 senators could kill the redistricting legislation.
The Senate Democrats believed they could return to Texas safely because the special session had expired. But they became concerned, Cook said, when they began hearing reports that Perry might call lawmakers back to Austin today for another session. The Democrats then could have been detained if they were in Texas.
The hearing is expected to continue today without the senators. The senators had planned to meet again Wednesday night to decide whether they are staying in New Mexico or returning to Texas.
The governor has promised to call another special session on redistricting but has not said when.
If true, this senator was Bill Ratliff. No other Republican would advise the Rats.
Now they have another VRWC angle. I just hope they aren't getting paid.
Don't get caught. The democRAT modus operandi.
Interesting, thanks !Cook did not say what the evidence was, but said a Republican senator advised his Democratic colleague not to return to Texas today.
RATliff !!!!
Oh. I see ya beat me to it. Yep, no doubt ... RATliff.
Hell, if I were a Republican Senator, I'd tell the Dems the same story. I think it makes them look paranoid.
Local news in Houston never carries this story anymore. I kinda hoped that the Demo paranoia would bring it back, but it hasn't.
This is hilarious. The Rats are afraid to return even though the legislature isn't in session. They can't even claim anymore that the GOP is wasting taxpayer money on a special session. Yet they can never return unless the Texas Supreme Court rules that they can't be arrested.
Which it won't.
Also what happens if they don't show up at the hearing? Will the case be dismissed? And is it better for the Republicans or the Democrates if the case is dismissed?
Poor li'l 'RATS ! ... NOT !! ...
Yep ! The last I heard he was (a day or 2 ago). I'd imagine he still is ...
It would be better for the GOP if the case is dismissed, but I'm not really expecting that.
Well, the 'RATS brought the suit saying that the 2/3rds rule adversely affects minorities voting rights (a CROCK !). So if the case is dismissed, it would hurt the Dirty 'RATS of course. It's frivolous and false ...
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