AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Tuesday that he expects Gov. Rick Perry will call another special legislative session to address congressional redistricting if a plan is not approved this session.Perry, speaking to reporters earlier, would not confirm that he would call lawmakers back to the Capitol to redraw congressional districts if they fail to adopt a plan, but he left the option open.
"Oh, I never rule it out," Perry said.
Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate, said Perry told him he would call another session but Dewhurst also said he believes lawmakers should solve the issue now.
UPDATE: Hints of another walkout, this time in the Senate. Quorum Report says "Sine die and come back sans blocker bill":
As the brainstorming continues about how to achieve congressional redistricting in the face of what appears to be growing resistance in the Senate, a new line of thought is emerging.As we hear it, the plan goes this way:
Finish whatever business is on the call that can be finished and sine die on Friday. The members who so choose will then be free to attend the week long National Conference of State Legislators in San Francisco.
Governor Perry will call a second special session to convene the week after NCSL. Members will return refreshed and energized.
This is fun game that we're playing... I beat ya by 7 minutes this time =)
Posted by: ByronUT on July 15, 2003 1:49 PMWhat? Is Perry hoping that redistricting will somehow become popular?
Here's a hint to our illustrious Governor: If public opinion is running at 95% against, they're going to blame the idjits who keep calling the sessions.
Does Tom Delay have pictures of Perry engaging in a gay orgy with Dewhurst or something?
Why on Earth would Perry and Dewhurst keep doing this to themselves? It's not really hurting the Dems, but it's certainly making them look bad...and I can't see that changing.
Posted by: Morat on July 15, 2003 2:14 PMI don't understand. You mean right away? What does he think will change? That 2/3 rule I guess?
GOP motto:
If at first you don't succeed, change the rules.
Thomas: Yes, right away. The difference is that there'd be no "blocker" bill, so a simple majority would suffice to allow debate. Oddly enough, though, at this point I think they'd have a hard time getting a majority to agree on a given bill. I'm still not sure they're not kidding (at least, kidding themselves).
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on July 15, 2003 2:42 PMI think at this point there's an element of needing to win and to be seen not to lose. If they get a bill through, it's a victory, or something like that. Otherwise Perry and DeLay have too much egg on their faces.
I'm gonna laugh if they call a special session and end up with a bunch more people in the Holiday Inn in Ardmore, though.
Posted by: Ginger on July 15, 2003 3:33 PMJust had a long conversation with someone at Kyle Janek's office. I felt as if I had just stumbled into a Twilight Zone episode. Everything he offered was a talking point.
Other priorities? Get to them later.
Blocker bill? Done in 92. Didn't have an answer for the fact there appear to be two blockers.
Democrats ran away - so did the Repugs during Sharpstown. Not relevant.
Governor wanted courts to decide in '01? Temporary solution.
Repugs blocked '01? Dems fault.
Disenfranchised Hispanics? Move right along, nothing to see here.
This is insane. The impression I was left with was they will pursue this until the Dems give in
or the citizens drive them down.
Everyone who laments that our legislature doesn't meet often or long enough to "get things done" may well get their wish! What's that advice about being careful what you wish for? :)
Posted by: Kevin Whited on July 15, 2003 6:35 PMEven worse, Kevin, now that they're a fulltime Legislature, they'll want to vote themselves a pay raise. Anyone wanna get some pitchforks and follow me to Austin?
Posted by: Charles Kuffner on July 15, 2003 11:26 PM