I had hoped the Texas 11 could stay in New Mexico indefinitely, but I can appreciate how difficult this ordeal has been on the lawmakers and their families. Apparently, one of the 11 just couldn’t take it anymore.
As Aaron over at Naw mentioned this morning, there’s been a crack in what was a solid front.
Texas State Sen. John Whitmire abandoned his self-imposed exile yesterday, leaving the Texas 11 and returning to his home in Houston. Considering the partisan breakdown of the Texas Senate, Gov. Rick Perry (R) can now call a third special session on Tom DeLay’s redistricting scheme and, with Whitmire in attendance, have the quorum to pass the plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts to favor Republicans.
Whitmire, who joined his 10 Dem colleagues in Albuquerque for 37 days, said he continues to oppose DeLay’s redistricting proposal, but will try to fight the plan in the legislature instead of from a hotel in New Mexico.
According to Austin-American Statesman, Whitmire told his 10 fellow Dems of his decision in a three-hour meeting yesterday. Apparently, he came to appreciate that time was not on the Dems’ side.
“I just believe that Governor Perry is willing to call special after special session,” Whitmire said after the meeting. “We need an exit plan.”
For the time being, what is now the Texas 10 is still in Albuquerque considering their next step. Of course, they are well aware of the numbers needed for quorum and know that Whitmire’s return to Texas means a probable defeat.
Whitmire signaled his intentions over the last week. He secretly returned to his home over the Labor Day weekend, met with several constituents, and decided that staying in New Mexico indefinitely is “nuts.”
“After being in my district for five days, I have concluded my constituents are opposed to redistricting, but they also believe the fight should be on the Senate floor,” Whitmire said. “I came out here to share that experience and say, ‘Colleagues, let’s have an exit plan, and it should not include another 30 days in New Mexico because of the damage it’s going to cause.'”
I can’t blame Whitmire too much. His home, office, job, and family is in Houston. The Republicans, desperate to ram through DeLay’s scheme by any means necessary, can call special sessions repeatedly until they get what they want. Whitmire was getting frustrated, understandably, by this reality. The cards were just stacked against the Texas 11 from the beginning.
Whitmire’s return does not mean that the third special session will begin immediately. Considering Whitmire’s intention to stay in Texas, the Republicans don’t really have to rush.
Eventually, probably over the next couple of weeks, Perry will call for yet another special session. When this happens, the state senate will have its quorum, and unless several Republicans suddenly develop a conscience, it will pass the re-redistricting plan.
I hate it when the bad guys win.
Any chance the 51 Killer Ds in the Texas House may want to return to Ardmore, Okla., and stick it to the GOP one more time?