Texas Dems Still On The
Lam
ARDMORE, Okla., May
14, 2003
Nearly 300
miles from the Texas Capitol, 51 House Democrats are whiling away their days at
an Oklahoma Holiday Inn, chatting on cell phones by the pool, snacking at
Denny's and caucusing in a conference room.
Their escape from Austin to
Ardmore, Okla., has halted the legislative session, leaving their Republican
colleagues with little to do but engage in paper-wad fights and design "wanted"
posters and playing cards with the missing lawmakers' pictures.
Most
House Democrats secretly left the state Sunday night to prevent Republicans from
pushing through a bill that would redraw boundaries for U.S. congressional
districts that were already adjusted once after the 2000 census.
"You
get to a point where you draw a line in the sand and make a stand on principle,"
said Democratic state Rep. Pete Gallego. "We've reached our limit."
The
standoff compelled the speaker to adjourn the House on Wednesday so Republicans
could do committee work. Democrats say they won't be back until Friday, by which
time the redistricting bill will die unless two-thirds of the House approves it.
The Democrats fled Texas to avoid the reach of state troopers, who had
been told to round them until that order was rescinded Tuesday night. House
rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum — which
requires at least 100 of the body's 150 members to be present.
Some
lawmakers briefly worried their plan was foiled Wednesday morning, when they
were awakened by pounding on their doors. But it wasn't the law, just the
weather: A tornado warning forced them into a dingy basement to wait out a
twister that ultimately did not materialize.
"At first I thought, 'How
in the world did (U.S. Attorney General John) Ashcroft come up with a reason to
get the FBI banging on our door?'" said Rep. Jim Dunnam, laughing.
Republicans, though, found little to laugh about. Gov. Rick Perry was
among the state GOP leaders who lambasted the Democrats for fleeing to Ardmore,
about 30 miles north of the Texas state line and about 270 miles due north of
Austin.
"By taking refuge in Oklahoma, they are silencing debate on
important issues, undermining our system of democracy and running out on
millions of everyday Texans who are depending on their representation," Perry
said in a statement.
The Young Conservatives of Texas released a list of
the "Top 10 Differences Between Fugitive Texas Democrats and Saddam Hussein."
"Saddam ran an oil-for-food program. Texas Fugitive Dems are running a
blackmail-for-quorum program," was number three.
But others in Texas and
Oklahoma are hailing the Democratic House members as heroes. Dozens of Democrats
have flocked to Ardmore wearing patriotic attire and bearing fruit baskets,
balloons, cookies and barbecue.
Several newspapers across Texas also
support the lawmakers.
"If they (House Democrats) believe their
principles are worth fighting for, and they have only one means to fight for
them, it's difficult to fault them for it," the Houston Chronicle said in an
editorial.
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