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August 17, 2003
Texas Republicans are going insane
You know, it's bad enough that the Texas Republicans are trying to force this redistricting map idea of theirs through, but now they're getting ridiculous. Apparently, they're planning to try and levy fines against the Democrats that have taken flight (to prevent a vote from being taken on the redistricting), even though technically, there's no rule on the book at this time that allows for such fines, and they're supposed to need a quorum to make any changes to the rules.
Keep in mind, the whole point of the Democrats leaving the state is to prevent a quorum, so no votes can be taken. So, if there's not enough Senators present to take a vote on the redistricting proposal, there's also not enough Senators present to vote on rule changes.
The Democrats say they feel pretty confident that the fines can't be enforced, though some of the Republicans are now saying that if the Dems won't pay the fines, they'll just take it out of their postage and travel budgets, and there's also been talk of refusing to allow the Dems to use conference and meeting rooms, cutting off their state-provided cell phones and eliminating their parking priveleges, among other restrictions. Basically, if the Dems won't pay the fines - which the Repubs most likely don't have the authority to impose in the first place, the Repubs are planning to pretty much make it impossible for the Dems to do their jobs. I can't remember where, right now, but I read that there has at least been talk of even refusing to allow them to vote - as punishment for their refusal to come back to the capitol to vote. There's a certain irony in that, I think. I also have to admit, I find the fine proposal rather amusing in its own way - the fines start at $1,000 per day and keep doubling until they reach $5,000 per day. Just think about the math for a second...
On top of that, the Republicans are now taking about possibly postponing the - get this - primary elections next spring, if the Democrats don't come back and allow the redistricting to go through. Apparently, some of the Democrats had hoped to be able to hold out enough that any map approved by the Republicans (because even if all the Dems vote against it, there are enough Republicans to get it passed anyway) would go through late enough that the Department of Justice wouldn't have time to approve it for use in the upcoming primaries.
"I don't know whether there is a practical deadline or not," Gov. Rick Perry said, reiterating his intent to call as many special sessions as it takes to get a new map. "There are so many options on the table relative to moving primaries so that you can get the DOJ's approval."The current plan, apparently, is to just keep calling special session after special session until the petulant Republicans get their way, and if they don't, they'll throw a major-league hissy and not let the people of Texas hold their primary elections until they do.
I think I'd prefer that they just hold their breath until they turn blue and go stomping off like the little children they seem to be imitating.
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Posted by thorswitch at August 17, 2003 06:50 AM
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