Fleeing Texas Democrats face new probe

AP | 8/13/03 | BOBBY ROSS JR.

[kattracks]

DALLAS (AP) — The Texas Republican Party is seeking a federal investigation into whether 11 state Senate Democrats who fled to New Mexico violated campaign finance laws by flying there in a bank's private jet.

The GOP made the announcement Tuesday after the mostly Democrat-less Senate approved a resolution to fine each missing lawmaker $1,000 a day, with the fine doubling for each missed session, but not to exceed $5,000 a day.

The Democrats, who have been in Albuquerque, N.M., for more than two weeks, have brought the Senate to a standstill by denying it a quorum to take up a GOP plan for congressional redistricting, an issue that has failed to pass twice this year. House Democrats fled the state for four days in May to block the redistricting bill in the regular session.

Texas Democratic Party Consultant Jeff Crosby said the Senators had checked with the Texas Ethics Commission on the use of the private plane.

"Everything they did was legal and proper," he said. "This is a completely frivolous complaint."

But Texas GOP chairwoman Susan Weddington called it "a blatant abuse of campaign finance laws that cannot be tolerated."

Democratic leaders have said the plane was donated by David Rogers, president of the First National Bank of Edinburg. However, online records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration show no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank, The Associated Press confirmed.

Weddington said a federal law prohibits national banks from making many different types of political contributions.

"We have rules against companies and national banks making political contributions, and the First National Bank of Edinburg and the Democrats that fled our state obviously have little regard for these laws," she said.

Weddington sent a letter seeking "an immediate investigation" to Archie L. Bransford Jr., deputy comptroller of the Comptroller of the Currency's Southeastern District office in Atlanta, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department that regulates national banks.

Bransford did not immediately return a telephone call Wednesday.

The Democrats also contend the fines passed by the Senate are illegal, saying Senate rules for sanctions call for nothing more than arrest by the Senate sergeant-at-arms.

"I won't pay it," said state Sen. Rodney Ellis.

Several said they would not be persuaded to return to Austin.

"We want our members and our colleagues back so that we can take up these issues before us and get on with our lives," said Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate.

Dewhurst cited a decision delivered Tuesday by state Attorney General Greg Abbott that senators have no constitutional right to break a quorum and that the Texas Constitution authorizes the remaining senators to compel their attendance.

[zlala]

Has the bank been named? I want to make sure I never do business with them.

[tractorman]

"Fleeing Texas Democrats face new probe"

I thought this was another in the endless string of homo stories.

[lormand]

Imagine the heroics of the Men who stood firm under the assault of Santa Ana at the Alamo.

Fast forward to the so-called Texans who fled their state to avoid a legislative vote.

What a contrast eh?

[BOBTHENAILER]

after the mostly Democrat-less Senate approved a resolution to fine each missing lawmaker $1,000 a day, with the fine doubling for each missed session, but not to exceed $5,000 a day.

Good, make 'em pay.

[lepton]

Democratic leaders have said the plane was donated by David Rogers, president of the First National Bank of Edinburg. However, online records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration show no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank, The Associated Press confirmed.

[RobbyS]

Hah!

[ChewedGum]

We just need one of them back...would be nice to see one buckle under pressure and make the whole endeavor worthless.

Gum

[Frank_Discussion]

"...online records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration show no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank..."

Wait a sec. If he has a lien on the plane (i.e., financing) through the bank, then the owner would be the bank, right? Wouldn't that make it legal? I mean, if I let a politician ride in my car or borrow it, would there be trouble since it isn't paid off? That doesn't sound right.

Unless I'm missing something, I think we might want to leave this one alone. There's more than enough pikes upon which to mount the craven 12 without persuing something like this.

[Frank_Discussion]

Oh, I was thinking Alien attack...

[Cultural Jihad]

It was listed in the article somewhere beyond the first sentence: "First National Bank of Edinburg".

[zlala]

Thank you. I read through it twice and still missed that!!

[Night Hides Not]

Life is good...

Although I would've preferred more machismo on the part of Dewhurst and (especially) Perry, I like the way they've been setting traps for the Albuturkeys.

The longer this goes on, the worse it looks for the Democrats. Of course, I live in the conservative 'burb of Valley Ranch, where Democrats are endangered species.

[.cnI redruM]

Wow! 'Democrats' afraid of Democracy. These are the 'Dead-Dick Dog Democrates' or D4 for short.

[lormand]

"Of course, I live in the conservative 'burb of Valley Ranch, where Democrats are endangered species."

Not many here in Cedar Park either.

[ChewedGum]

I was thinking that black ball probe thingy from the original Star Wars. I would pay to see them get that.

Gum

[sam_paine]

Wait a sec. If he has a lien on the plane (i.e., financing) through the bank, then the owner would be the bank, right? Wouldn't that make it legal? I mean, if I let a politician ride in my car or borrow it, would there be trouble since it isn't paid off? That doesn't sound right.

I think it's saying that they are actually bank planes, and the dims claimed they were personal jets.

[Frank_Discussion]

That's another thing entirely, but the article isn't clear. (surprise)

If you're right, then fry 'em!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Fleeing Texas Democrats face new probe

OH THAT! I thought you had heard of my plan:

My Boot in Rodney Ellis' A$$ !!

[BOBTHENAILER]

would be nice to see one buckle under pressure and make the whole endeavor worthless.

Wouldn't that be sweet. Too much Arkanicide pressure for that to occur I'm afraid.