Tweet
Now this is interesting... 
Texas Democrats Walk Out of Vote in State Legislature
VOA News
13 May 2003, 22:00 UTC
They're nicknamed the "Killer D's," although their actions may suggest otherwise.
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. They say the plan is unfair because it will increase the number of Republican-held seats in the U.S. Congress.
Officials dispatched state troopers to arrest the Democrats in Texas. But they escaped to the border state of Oklahoma and are holed up in a motel in the city of Ardmore.
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.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, called the Democrats "cowardly and childish." He said they were elected to do a job, and that "jeopardizing vital programs and hiding out in another state is inexcusable."
But the Democrats say they will not vote on the redistricting plan because it is being pushed in a sneaky way by U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican.
In 1979, 12 members of the Texas Senate used the same tactic to kill legislation they thought was written to benefit former Texas Governor John Connally and then-California Governor Ronald Reagan, both Republicans. The walk outs were called the "Killer B's."
VOA News
13 May 2003, 22:00 UTC
They're nicknamed the "Killer D's," although their actions may suggest otherwise.
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. They say the plan is unfair because it will increase the number of Republican-held seats in the U.S. Congress.
Officials dispatched state troopers to arrest the Democrats in Texas. But they escaped to the border state of Oklahoma and are holed up in a motel in the city of Ardmore.
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.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican, called the Democrats "cowardly and childish." He said they were elected to do a job, and that "jeopardizing vital programs and hiding out in another state is inexcusable."
But the Democrats say they will not vote on the redistricting plan because it is being pushed in a sneaky way by U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican.
In 1979, 12 members of the Texas Senate used the same tactic to kill legislation they thought was written to benefit former Texas Governor John Connally and then-California Governor Ronald Reagan, both Republicans. The walk outs were called the "Killer B's."
Comment