If they feel that it is the thing to do, then yes, more power to them. If he is doing something outside his power, he should be dealt with accordingly. The message should be that if you don't like what a party/representative is doing, let them know. Take action. Draw up a petition. Write letters. Send email. My state senator is accessible. Do not go whining that a side is "cheating" when they are clearly abiding by current law. As I've said, take action, but don't go misrepresenting the facts by saying that they are breaking and/or modifying the rules. By the way, is it "tradition" to run away to Oklahoma or were those Democrats simply applying/using the rules at hand to their situation?
You claimed that they were not breaking the rules when that is exactly what he threatened to do. Dewherst said clearly that he might suspend the Senate rules to bring the bill to the floor. That IS breaking or at least modifying rules. This is a waste of my money (especially if they call a second special session) by a state that cut my health insurance because they were in the red. The Republicans claim to care about the common man, but they are proving otherwise with this expensive, partisan action that will not benefit anyone but Tom DeLay.
If you reread my original post in this thread, my original question to you it was: "What rule are they breaking by redrawing the districts? Is there a law against it? If so, please cite it, I'd like to read it." You then responded that they weren't breaking a rule on that one, but breaking a "tradition". In that sense I responded they are not 'cheating'. When you followed up by detailing certain issues, I responded in kind which in a nutshell said that in instances where real rules and/or laws are being broken the person should be dealt with accordingly. In other words, I agree with you that folks should be dealt with when they break the law or a rule BUT you (or anyone) shouldn't call them cheaters when they use the rules to their advanatge, much like the Democrats who ran away to Oklahoma did (i.e. use the rules to their advantage) Didn't the Democrats who ran to Oklahoma (and followed the rules) also waste taxpayer money while playing by the rules?
No waste of money when they still got the business of government done. They passed the budget (#$%^%) as well as other important legislation. The Reps are wasting 1.7 million on a special session that looks unlikely to accomplish anything, and add to that the fact that Perry has said he will call a second special session if this one fails to produce a new district map. That will be nearly 3 and a half million dollars for something that will not benefit your average everyday Texan. Do you think that this is worth the money we are spending?
So it's not a waste of money to disappear for X number of days and take that much longer to resolve certain issues? As to your last question, that remains to be seen.
Those extra days did not cost the legislature anything, in fact since the Dems gave up their per diem, they actually saved the government money.
But everybody in the entire legislature didn't give up their per diem, did they? The session was essentially shut down while they were gone, wasn't it? (my questions are serious, not rhetorical)
No, they left until the day for accepting new bills for consideration passed. Once they came back, they passed all of the legislation that was already up for consideration.
