Category Archives: Killer D’s

Man, I’m getting burned out (and more than a little bit bitter) about the whole special session/redistricting thing. I’ve still got one or two more substantive things to say, mostly in response to Kevin’s thoughtful post (note: “thoughtful” doesn’t mean … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In the 77th Legislative session in 2001, the House and Senate failed to agree on a new congressional map. A new map had to be drawn, since the 2000 Census gave Texas two more seats in the US House. The … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Though he still won’t confirm anything, the word is that Governor Perry is about to call a special session to begin on June 30 that will cover redistricting as well as the so-called “Death Star” government reorganization bill. Perry spokeswoman … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Via Big Media Matt, I see that Jacob Rosenfeld is worried about pessimism among Democrats in the runup to next November: The 2004 race isn’t over — despite what Kurtz and others presume. Now, the relentless negative coverage can become … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, I can’t say this this is a big surprise: WASHINGTON — A Homeland Security Department investigation has cleared an agency worker of any wrongdoing in the effort last month to help Texas Republicans track down missing Democratic lawmakers and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Just noticed that Thomas Nephew has also been following the Killer D story as well. Start at that link and follow the other links back for his coverage. Via Amygdala. Continue reading →

Let’s start with this article in the Statesman which examines the position of several key senators on redistricting. A common theme, as summed up by Ken Armbrister (D-Victoria) is that many of them will want something before they’ll carry water … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Boy, everyone‘s talking about the blocker bill now. The Chron had a chat with Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, who reiterated his intentions to follow Senate traditions in any special session, including any session which may revisit redistricting. The upshot of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Today’s WaPo has a nice overview of the Killer D story, focusing on the search for former Speaker Pete Laney’s plane. Regardless of your opinion on this situation, you’ll find the info on how Homeland Security’s Air and Marine Interdiction … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You know, with today’s report that redistricting is likely to be on the agenda for a special session that will also revisit the government reorganization bill, I’m almost ready to say “OK, just shoot me now and get it over … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ve just put up a post on the Political State Report that attempts to answer the question “Are the rules for bringing a bill to the Senate floor different in a special session than they are in a regular session?” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Department of Public Safety documents about the search for the Killer D’s which escaped the shredder’s jaws were released yesterday, and the first thing we see is that Governor Perry had a bigger role than he’s claimed so far. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) gave his much awaited deposition yesterday, in which he swore he’d name sources within DPS. Whom did he finger? Uh, well, that’d be Roberta Bilsky, a staffer of Rep. Kevin Bailey (D-Houston). Deputy Attorney General … Continue reading → Continue reading →

State Rep. Craig Eiland has accused Governor Perry of ordering a DPS trooper to search the neonatal intensive care unit where his premature twins are being kept as part of the hunt for the Killer D’s. Rep. Kevin Bailey, D-Houston, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Governor Perry has declared his intent to call a special legislative session, but not for any of the issues (budget, school finance, redistricting) that have been anticipated so far. He’s vowed to keep legislators in Austin until they pass a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

State Rep. Kevin Bailey (D-Houston) has announced that his committee has finished its investigation of record-shredding by DPS and the security tapes. “It may have been a technical violation of the law to destroy the documents. I don’t think there … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Now that all of the security tapes have arrived intact from DPS, a new star is born: Assistant Attorney General Jay Kimbrough, the governor’s “point man” for the Department of Homeland Security, who was there in the command post on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I agree with Big Media Matt that Joe Lieberman can only help himself in the Presidential primaries by pushing for an investigation of Tom DeLay. It’s an issue that will resonate with partisan Democrats without forcing him to tack left … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You know things are going badly at the Department of Public Safety when they can’t even dupe a tape without screwing it up: “I don’t know if people are trying to run out the clock so we’re not in town … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ve been out of town for most of this weekend, so I’ll just point you to Josh Marshall, who’s been on the Tom DeLay story like Rush Limbaugh on an all-you-can-eat buffet. Marshall notes that now the Department of Transoprtation … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In the Sky Is Blue And Water Is Wet Department, Tom DeLay has admitted that yes, he did have a role in the DPS investigation of the Killer D’s. DeLay said his staff used public information at the Federal Aviation … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In the comments to this post, Morat suggests the statute that DPS was talking about, and goes to show why it’s not applicable. Josh Marshall is on the same page, and he’s quoted from this Star Telegram article and this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s really amusing that Texas State GOP Chair Sarah Weddington told her colleagues to use phrases like “on the lam” when describing the Killer D’s walkout because it connotes “criminal wrongdoing”, especially given that the justification being bandied about by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Texas Department of Public Safety is under heavy criticism for how it handled the search for the missing Democratic legislators last week, with allegations of harassment of the legislators’ families and misleading the Department of Homeland Security about Pete … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is just too weird. Three years ago, an Austin writer named Lawrence Wright penned a screenplay called Sonny’s Last Stand about a group of Democratic state representatives who hole up in the Alamo for a few hours to break … Continue reading → Continue reading →

All of the missing Democratic legislators have returned from Ardmore and elsewhere, having accomplished their mission of preventing a Tom DeLay-orchestrated Congressional redistricting bill from reaching the House floor. The legislators and their supporters are happy with what they have … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, the walkout is about over, as tonight is the deadline for new bills to be filed, and the Dems won’t be back until tomorrow. I’ve just posted another roundup of news and views on the Political State Report. I’m … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I see that Binkley has a picture of the Killer D’s playing cards, which he found here. All I can say is that someone didn’t do his homework – Rep. Irma Rangel died of cancer in March. Her replacement is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

When the walkout of the Killer D’s was first reported on, I said the following: Travis County Democrats are sponsoring a rally in favor of the 52 strikers (typically, the Harris County Democrats have zip on this). Michael has since … Continue reading → Continue reading →

One of the Republican responses to the Democratic walkout of the state House has been to point out that the GOP was the minority party for most of Texas’ history. As Speaker Craddick put it, “How do you think the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Byron of the Burnt Orange Report and a friend travelled to Ardmore to hear the Dems’ press conference. They got to mingle a bit with the Killer Ds, and he has a nice report posted. Check it out. Oh, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Although three Democrats returned to Austin today, at least one of whom was brought in by DPS, 51 of them remain in Oklahoma, where the locals and some visiting constituents are treating them well. “You guys are my heroes,” Sharon … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Now that we’re hip-deep in this little legislative comedy, how exactly do we get ourselves out of it? The lines in the sand are pretty clear. Democrats want the Republicans to take the DeLay redistricting plan off the table. Republicans … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You’ve probably heard by now that some of the missing Democratic State House members have turned up in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where they partied down on Denny’s pot roast and continued to thumb their noses at Speaker Craddick and Governor Perry. … Continue reading → Continue reading →