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May 13, 2003

Dems with Guts- Texans on the Lam

For those not following it, the Texas legislature is going through a pretty impressive breakdown that puts the minor theatrics of the Senate filibusters to shame.

In order to prevent the GOP majority from ramming through a mess of rightwing legislation, including new redistricting rules that would disenfranchise a range of poor and minority voters in the state, the Dem legislators are boycotting the legislature in order to prevent quorum (two-thirds required in the state). The GOP have issued warrants to the police to haul the recalitrant Dems to show up, so they are hiding out.

Here is a web site dedicated to the Texas Dems on the lam. Here is the main statement of the "quorum breaker" outlaw legislators:

We did not choose our path, Tom Delay did. We are ready to stand on the House floor and work day and night to deal with real issues facing Texas families. At a time when we are told there is no time to deal with school finance, and when we must still resolve issues like the state budget crisis and insurance reform, the fact that an outrageous partisan power grab sits atop the House calendar is unconscionable.

Our House rules, including those regarding a quorum, were adopted precisely to protect the people from what is before the House today - the tyranny of a majority. By our actions today, we are fulfilling our responsibilities to our constituents and upholding the oaths we took to serve the people of Texas.

The redistricting plan scheduled today before the Texas House of Representatives is the ultimate in political greed — it is undemocratic, unjust and unprecedented. It’s a power grab by Tom DeLay, pure and simple. The current congressional plan has been ruled by our United States Supreme Court to be constitutional and in compliance with the Voting Rights Act. Elections have been held, and we should respect the will of Texas voters.

Our Republican Attorney General ruled that this map can stand for the decade, and that we are not mandated to do redraw congressional districts this session. Many Republicans privately oppose it. Texas newspapers have editorialized against it. We do redistricting every ten years, not whenever those in power demand it.

Our Republican Attorney General ruled that we are not obligated to do this. Many Republicans privately oppose taking up redistricting. Texas newspapers editorialized against it. We do redistricting every ten years, not whenever those in power demand it.

Wish the Dems in Washington would tell Delay to go to hell with such verve.

Posted by Nathan at May 13, 2003 05:49 PM

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