5th Circuit hears DeLay ballot case arguments today

[Judi Lynn]

July 31, 2006, 12:35AM
5th Circuit hears DeLay ballot case arguments today
Possible GOP contenders eagerly await the outcome

By R.G. RATCLIFFE and KRISTEN MACK
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

With Republican candidates for the 22nd Congressional District living in political limbo, the legal battle about whether Republicans can choose a replacement for former Rep. Tom DeLay moves into the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today in New Orleans.
(snip)

Republican attorneys will argue that the GOP should be able to replace DeLay because he has moved his official residence to Virginia and is no longer eligible to represent Texas in Congress. Democratic lawyers will claim the move violates both state law and the U.S. Constitution and is a Republican attempt to remove a politically wounded candidate from the ballot.

If a three-judge appeals court panel throws out a district judge's injunction, the Republican scramble to pick a candidate to replace DeLay will begin in earnest. If the panel upholds the lower court, DeLay likely will have to decide whether he wants to campaign for an office he resigned from last month.

A ruling could come after oral arguments today, or under the court's expedited schedule sometime within two weeks.
(snip/...)

http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4082623.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. DeLay ballot ballet: He's on, he's off, he's on ... or is he?

Monday, July 31, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM
DeLay ballot ballet: He's on, he's off, he's on ... or is he?
By SUZANNE GAMBOA
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Tom DeLay is on the ballot, then off and then back again.

The convoluted course for the once powerful House majority leader began with a primary victory in March. Then came his resignation from Congress in June and a recent push by Texas Democrats to keep DeLay on the ballot, infuriating Republicans.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, planned to hear the case today.

After his primary victory with a comfortable 62 percent of the vote, DeLay announced in April he would resign from the Houston-area congressional seat he had held for more than two decades. On June 9, he delivered a no-regrets speech to the House as he left the Capitol Hill stage.
(snip/...)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003164187_delay31.html

[cascadiance]

2. How about Bilbray proving that he's NOT a Virginia resident!

That damn carpet bagger shouldn't be allowed to claim his mom's house as his "residence" here in San Diego.

He even had the nerve to complain about how his kids have to pay out-of-state tuition from Virginia here, whilst illegal immigrants that have lived here for some time don't.

Next thing you know Delay will find one of his parents' houses and claim that's where he's "living" too!

[samsingh]

3. any word on the outcome?