Democrats demand an end to sanctions

Fort Worth[LESS] Startlegram ^ | 9/18/03 | John Moritz (demonRAT waterBOY)

[harpu]

Angry that they are without Capitol parking spaces, denied access to staff members during floor sessions and forced to make do with fewer office supplies, several Democratic senators Wednesday demanded an end to the sanctions imposed for their 45-day runaway to New Mexico.

"I think the sanctions are a moot point," a visibly irate Sen. Mario Gallegos of Houston told Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on the Senate floor. "We've come back to work, and our staffs are still [required to sit] in the Senate gallery. I can't write my constituency and tell them there's a redistricting hearing at 1 o'clock today."

Gallegos and 10 other Senate Democrats are facing fines totaling $57,000 each for leaving Texas for more than six weeks during a special legislative session called to redraw the state's 32 congressional districts.

Because the Democrats have refused to pay the fines, their Republican colleagues who levied them have cut their office and postage budgets, revoked parking privileges for them and their staffs and denied Senate floor passes for staff members who routinely assist each senator.

Gallegos vowed to reclaim his parking space, and he challenged anyone to prevent him from doing so.

On Tuesday, the Senate Administration Committee discussed whether the fines and sanctions should be rescinded, but the panel adjourned without making a formal recommendation to the full Senate.

On Wednesday, the 19-member Republican caucus met behind closed doors to discuss how the matter should be resolved.

But before the closed-door session, a somewhat testy Dewhurst summoned several Democrats to his rostrum at the head of the Senate chamber where they whispered privately for several minutes. After the floor session ended, Dewhurst said that the matter would be settled perhaps as early as today.

"I am very anxious to get the whole issue of the fines behind us," Dewhurst told reporters. Although he stopped short of saying that the fines should be rescinded, Dewhurst added: "I don't think that [collecting money from the Democrats] was the intent of any of the Republicans on Day One.

"But some of our colleagues feel strongly that there ought to be some payment," he added.

The prospect of redrawing the congressional boundaries that were put in place two years ago by a federal court has created a sharp chasm between Democrats and Republicans in both statehouse chambers.

In May, 51 House Democrats bolted to Ardmore, Okla., for four days to derail the year's initial redistricting attempt.

The process hit the skids again when 11 Senate Democrats fled to Albuquerque, N.M., for an exodus that lasted 45 days.

Both actions shut down business in their respective chambers because it denied Republicans the required two-thirds quorum.

Republicans want the new boundaries to overturn the Democrats' 17-15 edge in Congress.

The House adopted its version of a plan late Tuesday; and on Wednesday, the Senate Jurisprudence Committee opened hearings on an alternative plan.

Both versions will make few changes in Fort Worth-Dallas area and both will probably result in more GOP seats.

But the House and the Senate remain divided on how West Texas will be apportioned.

House Speaker Tom Craddick wants a district based in his hometown of Midland. Sen. Bob Duncan of Lubbock, the chairman of the Senate jurisprudence panel, wants to make sure his hometown anchors that district.

The Senate plan is not expected to be ready for a floor debate until next week.

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John Moritz, (512) 476-4294 jmoritz@star-telegram.com

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© 2003 Star Telegram and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.dfw.com

[harpu]

It really takes some cojones to whine like these sorry-assed fools are still doing. Just plain pathetic!

Please email that fool, Moritz, the article's author and let him know that he is also a disgrace for carrying the demonRATs water on this pathetic ploy!!

[LOC1]

It seems that if the senate democrats want to change the fines and sanctions, they should propose a senate resolution to that effect and bring it to the floor for a vote. After all, the senate now has a quorum.

[Semper Paratus]

Restore their 'priviliges' as a rider to the re-districting bill.

[camle]

Texas Dems demand cheese to accompany their whine...

[harpu]

great idea...

[gunnedah]

They should be forced to pay the state of Texas the money it spent for the session they skipped out on. They were put in office to run the government not to run from it and obstruct.

[shiva]

Angry that they are without Capitol parking spaces, denied access to staff members during floor sessions and forced to make do with fewer office supplies,

Humph! Forced to live like you and me,eh? Well, welcome to the real world Clymers!

[whereasandsoforth]

I can't believe after all the damage that was done this is about to be glossed over like nothing happened. The democrats need to pay for this, and I mean be responsible for the extra cost of three special sessions. The biggest outrage will be to act as if no real harm was done. If the democrats aren't tied to a spit and roasted over an open flame of condemnation, the republicans can just go away as far as I'm concerned. Texas deserves the democrats!

[katykelly]

This is the second article I've read this morning about their pity party. Gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

[Arrowhead1952]

This is the second article I've read this morning about their pity party.

Make that three. Another one posted by Theodore R. @ 6:28PDT from a Lubbock Tx. paper.

[PatrioticAmerican]

If the pubbies have any balls, they wil INCREASE the sanctions, but, I doubt it.

[Roughneck]

Gallegos vowed to reclaim his parking space, and he challenged anyone to prevent him from doing so.


LOL! I saw this in a movie once, cant remember the name of it but it starred Tim Allen as a push-over who gets his parking spot stolen by the office bully. . .democrats cantcome up with an original thought or action can they?

I believe they must be programed via the secret sewers leading from hitlarys bathroom - you dems ought to quit drinking from the toilet bowl . . .

[Roughneck]

Restore their 'priviliges' as a rider to the re-districting bill.



LOL! the socialist-democrat party LOVES riders!

[harpu]

"They should be forced to pay the state of Texas the money it spent for the session they skipped out on."

AND, if they don't pay, they should turn the bill over to 'COLLECTION' and file the past due status with all the CREDIT BUREAUS.

[Dog Gone]

The sanctions will have to be lifted at some point. Otherwise the Rats will use it to play the victim card forever.

The question is what to extract in exchange. Preferably, it would be a constitutional amendment that a quorum is 50% of the members.

[Abynormal]

>> "I can't write my constituency and tell them there's a redistricting hearing at 1 o'clock today."<<

Hey Mario, your constituency is at work today so you don't NEED to write to them. If anyone heard the news the past two days, they KNOW there's a redistricting hearing. What's the matter, don't have any pens?

[PatrioticAmerican]

How about an amendment that states anyone in flight from a vote forfeits their seat, leaving it open and accounted for in purposes of a quorum?

[Dog Gone]

That would work, too. They may be trying to figure out how to do it without a constitutional amendment, but that might prove difficult.