The story that looks like it couldn’t get more ridiculous somehow manages to find a way.
When we last left our Texas adventure, a new special session was beginning in the Texas legislature to pass Tom DeLay’s outrageous redistricting scheme. 11 Dems in the State Senate fled to New Mexico to deny their chamber a quorum to take up the issue.
Yesterday, in speed not seen since The Flash, the Texas House suspended all debate and passed the redistricting plan the very day they began the second special session.
Many in the state GOP began criticizing the 11 Dems for going to a “vacation spot” in New Mexico, arguing that Albuquerque is more glamorous than Ardmore, Okla. It turns out the Dems chose Albuquerque because of its proximity to medical facilities, because one of the 11 state senators is still recovering from a recent heart attack.
Just like Oklahoma’s amusement in May when Texas House members fled to their state, New Mexico officials — most of whom are Democrats — are rallying to the 11 Texas senators’ defense. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), for example, appeared with the 11 Dems at a press event yesterday and explained that he has assigned state police as security for the visiting lawmakers.
For those of you who think police protection may be unnecessary, it’s worth noting that Republican leaders in Austin have indicated they support sending bounty hunters into New Mexico to bring the 11 state senators back to legislature so the redistricting plan can be passed. Worse, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) has expressed support for the bounty hunter approach.
New Mexico Gov. Richardson responded by announcing that his state’s police would arrest anyone who tried to remove the Dem lawmakers and charge the bounty hunters with attempted kidnapping.
Back in what’s left of the Texas Legislature, state Senate Republicans were mulling their options. They know they can’t send the Texas Department of Public Safety across state lines again, they can’t use the feds, and they can’t pass the redistricting plan without a quorum.
A Senate leadership source, who was speaking anonymously, told the Austin American-Statesman that the Republican leadership was considering “some zany things.” What would that include? The Senate GOP may conclude that with the 11 Dems out of the state indefinitely, their Senate seats are “vacant” and therefore not to be counted towards quorum. In addition, the leadership was contemplating a plan to declare the missing senators “residents of New Mexico.”
You know, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.