May 12, 2003
With Nothing Else to Do, They Stay Home

Texas House Seeks Arrest of Truant Dems

State troopers and the elite Texas Rangers were ordered to track down and bring in 59 Democratic lawmakers who brought the Texas House to a standstill Monday by going into hiding.

The quorum-busting boycott capped months of tension between Democrats and the newly-in-control Republicans over a bill to limit lawsuits and a GOP budget that would make deep spending cuts without raising taxes.

It also came just before scheduled debate on a congressional redistricting plan Democrats say was forced onto the agenda by Republican leaders in Washington.

GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick locked down the chamber so lawmakers who did show up could not leave. After a roll call, he ordered the missing lawmakers arrested and brought back to the chamber.

"It is a disgrace to run and hide," Craddick said. House rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum.


I can't wait to hear what the Austin Chronicle has to say about this.

Are they so unwilling to give up these "essential" government services that they'll go to lengths like this?

The Texas House cannot convene without at least 100 of the 150 members present. Of the 62 Democrats, 59 were absent as the day's session began. A fourth Democrat Rep. Sylvester Turner showed up in late afternoon.

As the hours passed, the House doorkeeper kept watch over the chamber's front door, its historic brass lock turned shut. Inside, lawmakers with nothing to do lobbed toy balls, whistled the "Star Spangled Banner" and dined on white-linen covered tables.

Most of the missing lawmakers said they planned to leave the state to avoid arrest, and late Monday the Texas Department of Public Safety asked the public for help in finding the lawmakers.


Absolutely unreal. They are vacating their positions at a time of immense financial importance. Granted, there are times when I'm glad gridlock grips the Legislature, but there is shit that needs to be done and they have to live up to their obligations as lawmakers.

This is how they act after they get booted from power after decades. Pathetic.

UPDATE(5/13 8:45am)
The "Killer Ds" were in Ardmore, Oklahoma, sick with the Boo Hoo Flu. Also, there were prior reports indicating that the Dems might do this.

DPS is listing the missing House members in a press release:

Roberto Alonzo, Dallas
Kevin Bailey, Houston
Lon Burnam, Fort Worth
Gabi Canales, Alice
Jaime Capelo Jr., Corpus Christi
Joaquin Castro, San Antonio
Garnet Coleman, Houston
Robert L. "Robby" Cook III, Eagle Lake
Yvonne Davis, Duncanville
Joseph "Joe" Deshotel, Houston
Dawnna M. Dukes, Austin
Jim Dunnam, Waco
Harold V. Dutton Jr., Houston
Craig Eiland, Galveston
Dan Ellis, Livingston
Juan Escobar, Kingsville
Jessica Farrar, Houston
David Farabee, Wichita Falls
Pete P. Gallego, Alpine
Timoteo "Timo" Garza, Eagle Pass
Ryan A. Guillen, Rio Grande City
Scott Hochberg, Houston
Terri Hodge, Dallas
Mark S. Homer, Paris
Charles L. "Chuck" Hopson, Jacksonville
Jesse W. Jones, Dallas
James E. "Pete" Laney, Hale Center
Ruth Jones McClendon, San Antonio
Jim McReynolds, Lufkin
John Mabry, Waco
Trey Martinez Fischer, San Antonio
Jose Menendez, San Antonio
Joe E. Moreno, Houston
Paul C. Moreno, El Paso
Elliot Naishtat, Austin
Richard J. "Rick" Noriega, Houston
Rene O. Oliveira, Brownsville
Dora F. Olivo, Rosenberg
Aaron Pena, Edinburg
Joseph C. "Joe" Pickett, El Paso
Robert R. Puente, San Antonio
Inocente "Chente" Quintanilla, Tornillo
Richard E. Raymond, Laredo
Allan B. Ritter, Nederland
Eddie Rodriguez, Austin
Patrick M. Rose, Dripping Springs
Jim Solis, Harlingen
Barry B. Telford, Dekalb
Senfronia Thompson, Houston
Carlos I. Uresti, San Antonio
Michael U. "Mike" Villarreal, San Antonio
Miguel D. "Mike" Wise, Weslaco
Steven D. "Steve" Wolens, Dallas

I hope they had fun running from the very state they are supposed to serve.

UPDATE(12:17pm)
Rep. Helen Giddings, also AWOL (but not part of the Oklahoma crew) has been arrested and brought back to the Capitol.

UPDATE(9/23/2003 11:15pm)
More here. The redistricting maps are being discussed in the House and Senate after another walkout, this time by the Senate Democrats. They have since returned.

UPDATE(10/12/2003 9:30pm)
Big News: a plan has been finalized and passed by both the House and the Senate.



Posted by Drizzten at May 12, 2003 08:19 PM

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