Will He or Won't He? Texas Legislators Wonder if Key Member Shows Up

[Judi Lynn]

Will He or Won't He? Texas Legislators Wonder if Key Member Shows Up
By Kelley Shannon Associated Press Writer
Published: Sep 15, 2003

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Democratic lawmakers were holding their breath to see whether Sen. John Whitmire attends the latest legislative session, a decision that could make or break their strategy to once again block GOP redistricting plans.

The latest round in a bitter fight over the composition of Texas' delegation to the U.S. Capitol was scheduled to start Monday when lawmakers open their third special legislative session.

Several Democratic senators said they would wait and see if Whitmire showed up for the session before they returned to the Capitol. His presence is crucial if Democrats hope to continue denying Republicans a quorum - the two-thirds of members needed to pass bills.

"We assume that he will, but there are some who believe that he won't. I believe that he will," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, speaking on behalf of her fellow Democrats. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA6VLY5MKD.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Maybe he will show up, and then 51 House Democrats can take off

They should make this like trying to get frogs into a wheelbarrow for these Republicans: one jumps in, another jumps out.

[w4rma]

2. I agree.

Besides, the longer this is prolonged, the stronger Texas Democrats become.

Old Democrats turned Republican will remember when Republicans tried before to get a lock on Texas decades ago. The Republican Party is still the party of the super-rich, just like it was back then.