Dana, Does that mean that what they are doing is illegal?
Andy -----Original Message----- From: Dana Tierney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 5:23 PM To: CF-Community Subject: Re: Emergency: Democracy under attack in Texas cant call in sick They can apparently be compelled to attend. But that authority stops at the state line. Dana Kevin Graeme writes: > I heard on NPR that they fled to Oklahoma, and the Republicans sent the > Texas Rangers after them. Then a judge (IMO correctly) ruled that the Texas > Rangers were supposed to be actually fighting crime instead of being used > for political squabbles by one side against the other side. So now > apparently, the Dems can just sit in their backyard grilling and call in > sick and the Republicans can't do anything about it. > > Personally, the whole thing is messed up. From what I've read of the > redistricting, it's a farce. On the other hand, it's crappy when elected > officials don't go to work and face up to their job. But then on the other, > other hand they are doing their job by taking advantage of a political > process. It's all enough to keep Molly Ivins busy till she dies. > > -Kevin > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Doug White" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 7:47 PM > Subject: Re: Emergency: Democracy under attack in Texas > > > > Actually they are not hiding - they are absent from the Senate who, > without them > > cannot do business without a quorum. They are in an adjoining state, > because > > they would be subject to arrest if they were inside the state. As it is > all the > > state has been able to do is to cancel their reserved parking spaces at > the > > state capitol. > > The called session is about over and they can come home, however the > Governor > > has said he will keep on calling special sessions for the redistricting > purpose > > BEFORE any other state business can be completed. > > When he does that, the Democrats in the House will then go out of state to > cause > > another lack of quorum. I predict this will continue right up to the > > re-election campaign starts for dubya. > > > > Only a casual look at any of the proposed redistricting maps will readily > see > > that it is intended to dis-enfranchise the rural and the Hispanic vote. > > > > The Governor is holding all legislative business hostage to the > redistricting > > issue which is being orchestrated out of Washington DC. > > > > Those who support the dirty tricks by the republicans who fear for their > > re-election despite raising tons of special interest money for campaigns, > are > > the same people who criticize Israel for defending itself and do not > condemn the > > Hamas and other Terrorists. > > > > ====================================== > > Stop spam on your domain, use our gateway! > > For hosting solutions http://www.clickdoug.com > > ISP rated: http://www.forta.com/cf/isp/isp.cfm?isp_id=772 > > Suggested corporate Anti-virus policy: > http://www.dshield.org/antivirus.pdf > > ====================================== > > If you are not satisfied with my service, my job isn't done! > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Kevin Schmidt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 6:33 PM > > Subject: FW: Emergency: Democracy under attack in Texas > > > > > > | "I know, it sounds more like a banana republic than the dignified > democracy on > > which we have long prided ourselves." > > | > > | Last time I checked, running and hiding wasn't Democracy either. The > people > > of Texas elected their officials. If they want to redistrict and shatter > a > > "tradition" (not a law mind you) they can. If the Texas voters don't like > it, > > then they can vote out the reps who made the changes. Even though I don't > like > > the fact that Democrats in Congress are filibustering Bush judicial > nominees, > > they are operating within the confines of the law. It's up to the voters > to let > > them know whether or not they agree. Just like in California, the laws > are > > being followed, just the same as in Texas. > > | > > | > > | >I don't normally pass this stuff on, but I think this one deserves some > > | >attention. However I have to warn you that their donation page is not > > | >secure. I am currently getting information on how to donate via PayPal > and > > | >will be glad to pass that on to those who want the information off > list. > > | > > > | >Sandy > > | > > > | > From: Zack <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Exley, MoveOn.org > > | >To: > > | >Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2003 6:04 PM > > | >Subject: Emergency: Democracy under attack in Texas > > | > > > | >Dear MoveOn member, > > | > > > | >Impeachment. The 2000 Election. The California Recall. The pattern is > > | >becoming clear: there's a group of men in power who will do anything to > > | >consolidate that power, including undermining our democratic > institutions. > > | >We've got to fight back. In Texas, they are fighting back. And while > the > > | >world is focusing on the California mess, they are fighting alone. They > need > > | >our help. > > | > > > | >A partisan plan pushed by Karl Rove and Tom Delay will redistrict up to > 7 > > | >Democrats out of Congress. Right now, 11 Democratic State Senators are > > | >hiding across state lines -- with the Texas Governor calling for their > > | >arrest -- to prevent this illegitimate plan from being strong-armed > into > > | >law. They have put their reputations and careers on the line for all of > us. > > | >A letter below from State Senator Rodney Ellis explains the situation > in > > | >detail. Please read it, and then please help us launch a hard-hitting > ad > > | >campaign to fight back in Texas. Whether you donate $5 or $5000, you > will be > > | >helping to hold accountable reckless leaders who think they can get > away > > | >with anything. Please contribute to this effort now: > > | > > > | >http://moveon.org/texasads > > | ><http://moveon.org/texasads?id=1595-2240002-M3WjX6jzxSCzgvKUUyXKeA> > > | > > > | >The Texas special session that was called to gerrymander the Texas > > | >congressional districts ends early next week, and the pressure is > building. > > | >These courageous leaders need to see real support now, or they won't be > able > > | >to hold out. > > | > > > | >Our numbers our great enough now to fight back effectively against > these > > | >attacks on democracy. Please get even more people involved by > forwarding > > | >this email to everyone you think would like to help. > > | > > > | >Thanks, > > | > > > | >--Zack and Wes > > | > MoveOn.org PAC > > | > August 20th, 2003 > > | > > > | >Below is the letter from State Senator Rodney Ellis. > > | >___________________ > > | >August 18, 2003 > > | > > > | >Dear friends, > > | > > > | >I am writing to you from a hotel room in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where > I > > | >and 10 of my colleagues in the Texas Senate have been forced to reside > for > > | >the past 20 days. If we return to our homes, families, friends, and > > | >constituents, the Governor of Texas will have us arrested. > > | > > > | >I know, it sounds more like a banana republic than the dignified > democracy > > | >on which we have long prided ourselves. We are effectively exiled from > the > > | >state due to our unalterable opposition to a Republican effort -- > pushed by > > | >Tom Delay and Karl Rove, and led by Texas Governor Rick Perry -- that > would > > | >rewrite the map of Texas Congressional districts in order to elect at > least > > | >5 more Republicans to Congress. > > | > > > | >You may not have heard much about the current breakdown in Texas > politics. > > | >The Republican power play in California has obscured the Republican > power > > | >play in Texas that has forced my colleagues and me to leave the state. > > | > > > | >Recognizing that public pressure is the only thing that can break the > > | >current stalemate, our friends at MoveOn have offered to support our > efforts > > | >by sharing this email with you. In it, you will find: > > | > > > | >* Background information on how the situation in Texas developed; > > | > > > | >* Analysis of what's at stake for Democrats and the democratic > > | >process; and > > | > > > | >* How you can help by contacting Texas politicians, signing our > > | >petition, contributing funds, and forwarding this email! > > | > > > | >The Republican redistricting effort shatters the tradition of > performing > > | >redistricting only once a decade immediately after the Census -- making > > | >redistricting a perpetual partisan process. It elevates partisan > politics > > | >above minority voting rights, in contravention of the federal Voting > Rights > > | >Act. It intends to decimate the Democratic party in Texas, and lock in > a > > | >Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. And > Republican > > | >efforts to force a vote on this issue by changing the rules of > legislative > > | >procedure threaten to undermine the rule of law in Texas. > > | > > > | >We do not take lightly our decision to leave the state. It was the only > > | >means left to us under the rules of procedure in Texas to block this > > | >injustice. We are fighting for our principles and beliefs, and we can > win > > | >this fight with your support. > > | > > > | >Sincerely, > > | > > > | >Rodney Ellis > > | >Texas State Senator (Houston) > > | > > > | >Background > > | > > > | >During the 2001 session of the Texas Legislature, the legislature was > unable > > | >to pass a Congressional redistricting plan as it is required to do > following > > | >the decennial Census. A three judge federal panel was forced to draw > the > > | >plan. Neither Governor Rick Perry or then Attorney General John Cornyn, > both > > | >Republicans, objected to the plan, which was reviewed and approved by > the > > | >U.S. Supreme Court. > > | > > > | >The 2002 Congressional elections, the first held under the new > redistricting > > | >plan, resulted in a Congressional delegation from Texas consisting of > 17 > > | >Democrats and 15 Republicans. However, five of the 17 Democrats > prevailed > > | >only because they were able to win the support of Republican and > independent > > | >voters. All statewide Republican candidates carried these five > districts. > > | >Most experts agree that the current plan has 20 strong or leaning > Republican > > | >districts and 12 Democratic districts. > > | > > > | >Meanwhile, the 2001 redistricting of Texas legislative seats (which was > > | >enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislative Redistricting Board, > after > > | >the legislature again gridlocked in its efforts) resulted in wide > Republican > > | >majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate. Now Tom Delay has > made > > | >it his priority to force the Republican-controlled Legislature to enact > a > > | >new redistricting plan to increase the number of Republican-leaning > > | >Congressional districts. Republicans believe they can manipulate the > > | >districts to elect as many as 22 Republicans out of the 32 member Texas > > | >Congressional delegation. They achieve this by packing minority voters > into > > | >as few districts as possible and breaking apart rural districts so that > the > > | >impact of independent voters will be reduced and suburban Republican > voters > > | >will dominate. > > | > > > | >During the regular session of the Texas Legislature, Democratic members > of > > | >the Texas House of Representatives exercised an unprecedented > parliamentary > > | >move to prevent the House from passing Tom Delay's redistricting plan. > While > > | >Democrats are in the minority of the House of Representatives, the > state > > | >constitution requires that at least 2/3 of the House be present for the > > | >House to pass a bill. Because it was clear that the Republicans would > > | >entertain no debate and brook no compromise in their effort to rewrite > the > > | >rules by which members of Congress are elected, the Democrats were > forced to > > | >break the quorum to prevent the bill from passing. Because the > Republican > > | >Speaker of the House and Governor called on state law enforcement > officials > > | >to physically compel the Democrats to return, the lawmakers removed > > | >themselves to a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Oklahoma -- outside the reach > of > > | >state troops(1). In there effort to apprehend the Democrats, Tom Delay > > | >officially sought the hel! p of the Department of Homeland Security, > the > > | >Department of Transportation and the Department of Justice. > > | > > > | >The House Democrats (nicknamed the "Killer D's", based on an earlier > episode > > | >in Texas history in which a group of Democratic state senators called > the > > | >"Killer Bees" broke the quorum in the Senate over a similarly political > > | >stalemate) succeeded in stopping Delay's redistricting plan during the > > | >regular session, returning to Texas after the legislative deadline had > > | >expired for the House to pass legislation. However, because the Texas > > | >Legislature meets in regular session only every two years, the state > > | >constitution gives the Governor the power to call a 30-day special > > | >legislative session at any time between regular sessions. Despite > statewide > > | >protests from Texas citizens who oppose Tom Delay's redistricting plan, > the > > | >Governor has called two special sessions(2) already this summer to > attempt > > | >to force the legislature to enact a new plan. > > | > > > | >The first called session expired in a deadlock, as 12 of 31 Texas > > | >Senators(3) opposed the plan. Under Senate rules and tradition, a 2/3 > vote > > | >is required to consider any bill on the floor of the Senate, giving 11 > > | >Senators the power to block a vote(4). The Republican Governor and > > | >Lieutenant Governor then determined they would do away with the 2/3 > rule, > > | >and called another special session, forcing 11 Democratic Senators to > break > > | >the quorum and leave the state.(5) These Senators have spent the past > 22 > > | >days in Albuquerque, New Mexico. > > | > > > | >The Governor has indicated he will continue calling special sessions > until > > | >the Republican redistricting plan is enacted, despite the fact that the > > | >Republican-controlled Texas Supreme Court recently rejected the > Governor's > > | >writ of mandamus filing to compel the Senators to return to the Senate. > > | >Meanwhile, eleven Democratic state senators are exiled from their > state, > > | >unable to be with their families, friends, and constituents, for fear > of > > | >being arrested as part of a partisan power play by Republicans. In the > most > > | >recent indignity, Republican Senators voted to fine the absent > Democrats up > > | >to $5,000 per day, and to revoke parking and other privileges for their > > | >staffs as long as the Senators are away. > > | > > > | >What's at stake > > | > > > | >At stake, on the surface, is whether Tom Delay will succeed in > exploiting > > | >Republican control of the Texas Legislature to add to the Republican > > | >majority in the United States Congress. But deeper issues are also at > stake. > > | > > > | > > > | >* If the Republicans succeed in redrawing the Texas Congressional > > | >lines to guarantee the election of five to seven more Republicans, it > will > > | >ensure that Republicans hold the majority in the U.S. House of > > | >Representatives for the entire decade and will likely result in Tom > Delay > > | >becoming Speaker of the House.(6) > > | > > > | >* The Republican advantage would be gained by removing many African > > | >American and Hispanic voters from their current Congressional districts > and > > | >"packing" them into a few districts that already have Democratic > majorities. > > | >The voting power of these minority voters would be dramatically diluted > by > > | >the Republican plan, in contravention of the federal Voting Rights Act. > If > > | >the Republicans succeed, over 1.4 million African American and Hispanic > > | >voters will be harmed. It would be the largest disenfranchisement of > > | >minority voters since the Voting Rights Act was passed. > > | > > > | >* Redistricting exists for the purpose of reapportioning voters among > > | >political districts to account for population shifts. The purpose of > this > > | >reapportionment is to ensure a roughly equal number of voters in each > > | >district, to preserve the principle of "one man, one vote."(7) For this > > | >reason, redistricting has always been conducted immediately following > the > > | >U.S. Census' decennial population reports. Tom Delay now proposes a new > > | >redistricting plan two years after the Census report simply because > > | >Republicans gained control over the Texas Legislature in 2002 and now > have > > | >the power to enact a much more Republican-friendly plan than the one > drawn > > | >by the federal courts two years ago. This is an unprecedented approach > to > > | >redistricting, one that subordinates its original purpose of ensuring > the > > | >principle of "one man, one vote" to the purpose of perpetual partisan > > | >politics. Redistricting, in this model, would never be a settled > matter, and > > | >districts would constantly be in fl! ux depending on the balance of > > | >political power in the Legislature. > > | > > > | >* The Texas Legislature has traditionally been defined by a spirit of > > | >bipartisanship and cooperation. This issue has polarized the > legislature in > > | >a way that threatens to destroy that tradition. The Republicans have > > | >effectively exiled their Democratic counterparts in a power play that > makes > > | >our state look more like a banana republic than a dignified democracy. > The > > | >arbitrary decision to discard the 2/3 rule in the Senate sets a > precedent > > | >that undermines that body's tradition of consensus and cooperation. The > > | >deployment of state law enforcement officials to apprehend boycotting > > | >legislators erodes the separation of powers between the executive and > > | >legislative branches of government, and diminishes legislators' ability > to > > | >represent their constituents as they see fit. The unilateral Republican > > | >effort to penalize Democratic Senators and their staffs > > | > > > | >What is needed > > | > > > | >The Democratic Senators currently in Albuquerque have two critical > needs. > > | >The first is to generate increased public awareness of the situation. > By all > > | >reason, every day the Senators are out of the state this story should > get > > | >bigger. Instead, news media have gradually lost interest in the story. > The > > | >California recall has dominated the attention of the national media, > and the > > | >Texas media has largely lost interest in the story -- out of sight, out > of > > | >mind. Without public attention to this story, the Republicans have all > the > > | >leverage -- if it does not cost them politically, it costs them > nothing(8) > > | >to continue calling special sessions until the Texas 11 are forced to > come > > | >home. > > | > > > | >The second critical need is funding. The cost of hotels, meeting rooms, > > | >staff support, and public relations efforts is mounting. In addition, > the > > | >Senators must defend themselves legally against Republican efforts to > compel > > | >their return, while also filing legal claims against the Republican > power > > | >play. The Senators are actively raising money for the Texas Senate > > | >Democratic Caucus Fund to offset these costs and prepare themselves for > a > > | >stay of indefinite duration in Albuquerque. > > | > > > | >Notes > > | > > > | >1. A recent Department of Justice investigation chronicled Republican > state > > | >officials' illegal attempts to use federal resources -- including > > | >anti-terrorism resources from the Department of Homeland Security -- to > > | >compel the Democratic lawmakers' return. See > > | >http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51520-2003Aug12.html for > a > > | >news report on the Justice Department investigation, or > > | >http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/03-08a/final.pdf for a copy of the > complete > > | >Justice Department report. > > | >2. At a cost to taxpayers of over $1.5 million per session. > > | >3. House Republicans passed a redistricting bill in the special session > > | >despite an outpouring of public opposition in hearings across the > state. All > > | >12 Democratic state senators opposed the plan, along with Republican > state > > | >senator (and former Lieutenant Governor) Bill Ratliff. > > | >4. The "2/3 rule" requires the Senate to reach broader consensus on > > | >difficult issues than a simple majority vote. It is a combination of > > | >official Senate rules and tradition. The rules of the Senate require a > 2/3 > > | >vote to suspend the "regular order of business" to consider a bill that > is > > | >not the first bill on the Senate calendar. By tradition, the Senate has > > | >always placed a "blocker bill" at the top of the Senate calendar, so > that > > | >every bill requires a suspension of the regular order of business to be > > | >considered. The process requires compromise and consensus to achieve a > 2/3 > > | >majority on each bill. One Texas insider has said that the 2/3 rule is > "what > > | >separates us from animals." > > | >5. In fact, the Governor and Lt. Governor attempted to "surprise" the > > | >Senators by calling the second special one day early and "trap" them in > the > > | >Senate Chamber. The Senators were able to escape the Capitol with > literally > > | >minutes to spare. > > | >6. Republican party activist Grover Norquist, head of the Washington > > | >D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform, was quoted as follows in the > August 17 > > | >Fort Worth Star Telegram: "Republicans will hold the House for the next > > | >decade through 2012 if Texas redistricts.It depresses the hell out of > the > > | >Democrats and makes it doubly impossible to take the House and probably > > | >depresses their fund raising.Anything that helps strengthen the > Republican > > | >leadership helps DeLay become speaker someday if he wants it." > > | >7. Established in the landmark case Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962) > > | >8. Notwithstanding the millions of dollars it is costing taxpayers. > > | > > > | > > > | > > > | > > > | > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm?link=t:5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm?link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. http://www.cfhosting.com
