Texas Democrats run for the border!

[Thud]

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

[JohnT]

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.

[Dinner]

I bet a good lawyer could have that law tossed out. Boycotts could be viewed as a valid form of expression.

[Boris Godunov]

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.

[Thud]

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?

[orange]

Politics, Texas style!

New reality TV show in the making...

[JohnT]

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.

[Thud]

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

What an amazing coincidence!

[Dinner]

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).

[Dinner]

edit

[Thud]

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.

[Cyclotron]

When does this legislative session end?

[Dinner]

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.

[Japher]

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?

[JohnT]

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