Burnt Orange Report

Perry to Call new Session at 3 PM

By Byron LaMasters

The Austin American Statesman reports:

The current special session is expected to come to an end a day early, with both chambers adjourning this afternoon.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he expects Gov. Rick Perry to immediately call a special session to start this afternoon. It is unclear whether some Democratic senators will show up for the session, amid rumors that they may be locked in the Capitol chamber.

A spokesman for House Speaker Tom Craddick also confirmed the report, although Perry had not made an announcement.

Dewhurst said he had hoped to wait until Tuesday, the final day the 30-day session could run, because he wanted the Legislature to adopt a sweeping government reorganization bill. As the clock ran on the first session, that bill's future in the House dimmed.

"It sounds as if, what I'm hearing from the House, is that at least they're under the understanding that they're coming back for a special session between 3 and 3:30 this afternoon," Dewhurst said.

The Quorum Report says that both House and Senate Democrats have left the Texas Capitol, and that neither will have a quorum when the session begins. The Houston Chronicle has the best coverage:

An unknown number of Democratic state senators abruptly left the state Capitol this afternoon after learning that Gov. Rick Perry planned to immediately call a second special session on congressional redistricting.

One Democratic senator who asked not to be named, told the Chronicle in a phone interview that senators were apparently on their way out of town.

"I have no idea where we're going. I just know in a little bit we will be out of pocket," the senator said.

He would not say how many senators had left but called it an "adequate" number to break a quorum and keep the Senate from conducting business.

The Senate requires two-thirds, or 21 senators, to be present to conduct business, meaning the absence of 11 senators could break a quorum. There are 12 Democrats in the Senate.

The senator said the action was precipitated by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's decision to bypass a traditional Senate rule that requires a two-thirds vote to debate any bill.

That rule, which has been in effect during the current special session, has so far blocked redistricting in the Senate.

The senator said the Democrats fled because they feared Perry would immediately call a second special session and Dewhurst would lock down the Senate chambers and prevent members from leaving.

The first session was to end by midnight Tuesday, but the Senate adjourned at 2:30 p.m. and the House also did so at 3:10 p.m.

Dewhurst earlier had told reporters Perry was expected to call a second special session minutes after both houses adjourned.

Of the 12 Democratic senators, the only one to show up for a 2 p.m. session today was Ken Armbrister of Victoria.

In May, more than 50 representatives hid out for several days to block action on congressional redistricting, forcing the governor to call a special session.

Judge Campbell will rule at 3:30 PM if the DPS can be used to search for the Democrats.

Holy Shit.

Posted by Byron LaMasters at July 28, 2003 02:57 PM | TrackBack