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No End in Sight

Tuesday marks the end of the special legislative session called in Texas by Governor Rick Perry. On the one hand, things don't look like they will change much, as the state has a lawsuit in Travis County due on Monday to determine if they can go into New Mexico to retrieve the derelict lawmakers. Even if they don't all indications have Perry giving the Republicans a break until after Labor Day and then calling an unprecedented third special session about congressional redistricting. After all, the Democrats in the Texas Senate fled to Oklahoma at the traditional close of the Session, only to find the governor, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Representative Tom DeLay forming a triumvirate of sorts eager to force the Democrats' hand. DeLay has been eager to see the Texas delegation finally be more accpeting of his political proteges (by stacking the districts), Dewhurst by suspending a two-third rule to vote on something in the Texas Senate, and Perry by continuously calling more special sessions. The only problem is that the sessions continually expire after 30 days, and the Texas Legislature only meets for about five months every two years.

The 11 Democrats in the Senate rolled out of town after Dewhurst suspended the minimum vote for a floor vote to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The GOP has tried everything, and now, it has the chance to either compromise or try to break solidarity among the eleven and get enough back to Austin for quorum and a vote. But don't be fooled, the Senate Democrats won't be back right away. Some are even claiming to stick out to at least Christmas and learn how to ski. But the truth is, the day that Clinton pal and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson (who has welcomed them to New Mexico), the Senators, and Willie Nelson have circled is September 4th.

For on that day, the television trucks descend on sleepy Albuquerque for the first "official" Presidential Debate for the Democratic Party. The event is being organized by Richardson and the Hispanic Caucus. You can imagine that all of the Democratic candidates will at least visit with the self-exiled lawmakers and that when the cameras turn on at Popejoy Hall at the University of New Mexico, one of the candidates will direct the unblinking eye to their presence. This is precisely what Richardson wants and unless the judge in Laredo rules that the Texas Rangers can then swoop in and arrest them, expect the candidates to get on the horn and claim how these "patriots" need your money to keep up the good fight. Dewhurst already wants a break before the next session is called, and Perry is losing political capital by being stiffed. The only person eager to use the smashdown tactics is DeLay who has been ass-mastered this round by Richardson. See you in the Land of Enchantment with the escort, Tom.
posted by Thomas at 11:27 PM 0 comments