14-05-2003 06:26									#31
	Put an end to popups!

Yes, it is illegal for legislators to miss quorum count intentionally (i.e. to prevent legislative action).

I think this is one of the funniest images in politics for awhile. You know a party is in trouble when they go into hiding from the police

	14-05-2003 06:27									#32
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quote: Originally posted by cyclotron7 Jon, I'm aware of that. Obviously, gerrymandering is something everybody does. This is just funny for the sheer scale of the gerrymandering and the reaction of the opponents. I'm wondering whether fleeing the state like this is illegal. I mean, the legislators aren't chained to their desks and can go as they please, but what are the laws on just leaving for an extended period?

It is illegal, in the state of Texas at least, for one party to purposely deny a quorum in the legislature by having masses of people not show up.

	14-05-2003 06:28									#33
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I bet a good lawyer could have that law tossed out. Boycotts could be viewed as a valid form of expression.

	14-05-2003 06:29									#34
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quote: Originally posted by JohnT Oh, puh-leeze. I'm not casting aspersions on your claim, but on your implication that this is a new tactic by the GOP. Fact is, Boris, redistricting is ALWAYS a priority whenever a state that has a power switch from one party to the other, regardless of what the current law says.

I didn't say it was "new," but is certainly is out-of-order in Texas, since the matter was settled by a court of law in 2001. The GOP is essentially trying to overturn a court's decision through legislation that is in violation of state procedure when it comes to redistricting. I don't think it happens too often where a party attempts redistricting when it isn't allowed.

	14-05-2003 06:33									#35
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Its not really a Boycott. Think about it. If you had the losing side march out of every vote, every bill would have to pass by 2/3rds (which is the quorum). What would be the point of having a majority vote system, then?

	14-05-2003 06:34									#36
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quote: Politics, Texas style!

New reality TV show in the making...

	14-05-2003 06:34									#37
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quote: Originally posted by Oerdin I bet a good lawyer could have that law tossed out. Boycotts could be viewed as a valid form of expression.

Likely not, as Texas law is quite clear on this. These people are not committing a boycott, nor are they on strike: they are just purposely breaking the law.

OK governor is a Dem whom, all of a sudden, denied Texas extradition rights.

	14-05-2003 06:38									#38
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quote: OK governor is a Dem whom, all of a sudden, denied Texas extradition rights.

What an amazing coincidence!

	14-05-2003 06:39									#39
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The law says one thing but I'm betting a good lawyer can make a case upon it being 1)A boycott and 2) Peaple refusing to work because they disagree with mangement (the governor).

	14-05-2003 06:40									#40
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edit

	14-05-2003 06:42									#41
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It being a boycott and labor rights do not supersede the Constitution of a state. You have a legislature that votes with majority votes, and a governer with the power to veto, and having to always have 2/3rds be in favor of a measure in order to even proceed on it eliminates the point of both of these.

	14-05-2003 06:48									#42
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When does this legislative session end?

	14-05-2003 06:51									#43
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What I'm saying is if a federal court (which always outrules a state court) says that what the legislators are doing is protected free speech then the state law goes bye-bye.

	14-05-2003 06:56									#44
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quote: More than 50 Democrats from the U.S. state of Texas have walked out of the state legislature in recent days to avoid a vote on a Republican-led plan to redraw congressional districts.... The 150-member Texas House of Representatives has since been unable to vote on the measure because a two-thirds presence is needed to conduct a vote.

uhmmm, (150-50)/150 = 2/3


So vote already!!!

or am I missing something?

	14-05-2003 06:57									#45
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

You're missing the phrase "more than" in front of the number "50".

	14-05-2003 06:58									#46
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Yep. IIRC, 58 fled, and 3 have returned since then, or something. Five more still need to return.

	14-05-2003 07:21									#47
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Bush Executes 150 New Mexico Democrats

	14-05-2003 07:23									#48
	Suffering from ads?

quote: You're missing the phrase "more than" in front of the number "50".

Doh! Thanks JohnT...

Ya know, if you can't beat them.... run!

Dems

	14-05-2003 07:29									#49
	Suffering from ads?

quote: Originally posted by JohnT Likely not, as Texas law is quite clear on this. These people are not committing a boycott, nor are they on strike: they are just purposely breaking the law. OK governor is a Dem whom, all of a sudden, denied Texas extradition rights.

Fine. If they want to play that way, start in absentia trials against them. Give them a nice Texas jail cell to come home to if they want to break the law.

	14-05-2003 07:36									#50
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This is becoming sillier and sillier. I'd expect this kind of 'crisis' from some African country doing its democratic transition... But in the US

(well, Texas has something of an African country anyways )

	14-05-2003 07:53									#51
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quote: Originally posted by Shi Huangdi Fine. If they want to play that way, start in absentia trials against them. Give them a nice Texas jail cell to come home to if they want to break the law.

I see. So it's only up to Dems to abide by the dictates of law, the GOP is exempt?

	14-05-2003 08:20									#52
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

The solution is simple. The Demonrats want to run away, do they? Fine, they forfeit their seats, appoint Republicans to take their place in each district.
That'll fix it REAL quick.

	14-05-2003 08:28									#53
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Gotta love the antics of our legislature.

	14-05-2003 08:32									#54
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I think that the Free World should nuke Texas and be done with it.

	14-05-2003 09:03									#55
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Shi, if they threw the guys in jail, they still wouldn't have quorum.

	14-05-2003 09:07									#56
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These guys should hold tight until the Republicans actually offer them a half way fair compromise.

	14-05-2003 11:19									#57
	Got spare money?

Bah, they should have fled to Mexico.

	14-05-2003 14:39									#58
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A big to the democrats here.

In the Soviet Union, any politican attempting to do this would be facing the might of the Soviet Military. Yes, the government would actually send troops after them.

OH WAIT..............

	14-05-2003 16:45									#59
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There is a very simple and fair solution to this problem. We need to amend the constitution to eliminate voting by districts, and instead elect the top (X) vote getters statewide to Congress. Everyone wins, except the two major parties.

	14-05-2003 16:48									#60
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--"You send your troops to arrest abstaining politicians ?"

We've been considering doing it the other way around, the XXXX way. Which is arresting our politicans as soon as they get elected. It'd save a lot of trouble all around.

BTW, about this rule about bringing the absentees back... it dates way back to the British Parliment. Think it's called "The Call of the House".

Any of the Brits out there laughing at Texas might want to check and see if it's still on the books

--"What I'm saying is if a federal court (which always outrules a state court) says that what the legislators are doing is protected free speech then the state law goes bye-bye."

How is it free speech, though? They're politicians. They're being paid to do a job which they are quite pointedly refusing to show up to do.
I don't think the free speech portion of the US Constitution applies to the actions government officials take in their official duties.

Wraith
"99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name."
-- Steven Wright