Redistricting Spokesperson Arrested

In 2003, Texas Democrats from the State House made national headlines when they travelled across the state border to Oklahoma en masse to deny a quorum for voting on the redistricting plan. They effectively broke the bill for the time being. Rep. Helen Giddings refused to appear, but was willing to be a spokesperson for the Texas Democrats. On the way to her car to negotiate she was arrested. It was a unprecendented political arrest of Rep. Helen Giddings, she ask if she could drive herself but, she was driven against her will to the capitol and escorted into the House chamber.
When redistricting was brought up again in a special session, the bill was passed by the House, but most of the Senate Democrats went to New Mexico, and killed one special session that way by denying a quorum again, promising to return if Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (the Senate President) would promise them that the two-thirds tradition (not allowing a bill to be debated without two-thirds of the members of the Senate agree). Gov. Rick Perry called them back a second time, and with one member (Senator John Whitmire) deciding to return, the remaining Senate Democrats did as well.

Computers to Gerrymander

Federal judges found redistricting legal they wrote in there opinion that computers used, made redistricting for political partisan advantage easier. After a hard-fought campaign in 2002, now being investigated for Delay's use of corporate fundraising, the Republicans won a majority in the Texas Legislature. Swiftly, they opened up an mid-decade redistricting plan, which was accused of favoring Republicans by using computers to gerrymander the district lines. Spliting cities and fractures traditional communities. Giddings added that redistricting is the most partisan issue facing the state Legislature.

Overboard Texas Rangers.

Democrats were only able to hold off the legislative majority for a short time. The Democrats legislators missed their families, they were not allowed to see their children or sick babies that were in an incubator. They would be arrested without a court signed warrant for seeing their family in Texas. State Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, said he believes that the dragnet went overboard when a Texas Ranger tried to find him Monday night at the neonatal unit of the Galveston hospital where his newborn twins are recovering -- in intensive care.
The court with all do speed ruled, the Attorney General signed letter was not a warrant. Stopping the Texas Rangers from arresting the legislators. Senator John Whitmire only then returned without fear of being arrested. The rest of the Democrats followed complaining they maxed out their credit cards and struggling to pay lawyers. Eventually the Democrats returned to Austin to face defeat. In the Texas Senate, the Lt. Governor broke precedent in letting something not supported by a two-thirds majority come to a vote. For example, the vote to arrest the Democrats legislators without a court signed warrant was enacted without the oath of office required quorum.

Redistricting Dragnet Sanctuary

The State of Texas then ordered a police dragnet across the Federal Interstate Highways Texas in a desperate attempt to stop Democrats Legislators form reaching sanctuary in another State or inside of Texas on property solely operated by the US Federal Government like Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande River. Big Bend National Park agreed to give sanctuary to Democrats legislators if they could get to the park. But the Federal Highways Administration repeatedly refused safe passage, and offered to cooperate with the Texas Rangers in arresting the Democrats Legislators on the Federal Interstate Highways of Texas. Rep. Helen Giddings was captured and driven to the capitol against her will. Compelling the Democrats legislators to take a plane with the ID number N711RD to sanctuary.
"Our position is that, without a warrant signed by a judge, we have no authority. Even under those circumstances, we are hesitant to get pulled into a Texas political battle. If we're going to do battle with Texas, we prefer that it be on the football field," Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry said through his spokesman.

Soliciting Corporate Money

The process of raising money, by soliciting corporate money. That money can only be used for administration of a PAC. Is do to, a corporate legacy of manipulating elections. So Taxes made it illegal, for corporate donations to be used for soliciting the public elections like mass mailing or phone banks but, can be used for administration like paying rent. Texans for a Republican Majority or TRMPAC is a indicted PAC Tom Delay help found. Indicted for it's use of corporate money for mass mailing and phone banks.

raising and spending corporate cash to influence the outcome of Texas legislative races.
Late Monday, DPS asked the public for assistance in locating the lawmakers by calling 1-800-525-5555.
The Ardmore group was found based on a sighting of a private airplane belonging to former House Speaker Pete Laney, a Democrat from Hale Center.

 
"Our position is that, without a warrant signed by a judge, we have no authority. Even under those circumstances, we are hesitant to get pulled into a Texas political battle. If we're going to do battle with Texas, we prefer that it be on the football field," Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry  said through his spokesman.
 
Back in the House Chamber, Rep. Dianne Delisi, R-Temple, passed around "most-wanted" playing cards like those the military is using to catch Iraqi leaders. In her deck, made on a computer, Fort Worth Rep. Lon Burnam, a Craddick critic, is the ace of clubs. The Democratic Party is the ace of spades.

"Our position is that, without a warrant signed by a judge, we have no authority. Even under those circumstances, we are hesitant to get pulled into a Texas political battle. If we're going to do battle with Texas, we prefer that it be on the football field," Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry  said through his spokesman.

Texas Supreme Court refused this week to consider a lawsuit filed by Perry and other Republicans to force Democrats to return.

Giddings added that redistricting is the most partisan issue facing the state Legislature.
by spliting cities and fractures traditional communities

"A bulletin was posted Monday on the Texas Department of Public Safety Web site -- the same one used to alert citizens to missing children and wanted criminals -- asking for help in locating the missing lawmakers.

"The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking the public for assistance in locating 53 Texas legislators who have disappeared," the bulletin read. "Anyone who has information regarding the current whereabouts of the legislators listed below is asked to call 1-800-525-5555."

They didn't use the highway alert system, but they did use the Web based one. It isn't as bad, but still pretty damn tacky.