HARDBALL POLITICS

James Joyner · Wednesday, August 13, 2003 · 2 Comments

Republicans in the Texas Senate voted on Tuesday to fine 11 fugitive Democrats up to $5,000 a day each to force them to return from New Mexico to vote on a plan that would add Republican seats in the U.S. Congress.

The Democrats angrily vowed they would not pay the fines and would remain out of state and out of the reach of Texas police, as long as necessary to stop the Republican power grab.

The Senate vote came 16 days after the Democrats fled to Albuquerque in neighboring New Mexico to break a quorum in the state senate and stop a proposal to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

The plan likely would change the state’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives from 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans to 22 Republicans and 10 Democrats in the next election, adding to a narrow Republican majority in the House.

This is quite the bizarre spectacle. Well, at least it shows Alabama and California aren’t the only states with whacky politics.

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About James Joyner
James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. Follow James on Twitter.

Comments

Bryan says:

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 11:41

I like the way Reuters characterize it: “The Republican Power Grab.” not even any scare quotes. When Democrats do it, it’s called redistricting. Sheesh.

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James Joyner says:

Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at 11:43

There is that.

Now, granted, redistricting is usually done by the legislature in power the year of the Census.

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