The Texas Legislature wasted no time today in gearing up for a fight over the so called 'Bathroom Bill' and other items on the Special Session agenda, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The very first item of business before the Texas Legislature following being gaveled into session was a measure introduced by State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) to punish what he called 'Quorum busting.'
Tinderholt said he has heard rumblings of another round of the famous 'Killer D's,' who ground business in the Legislature to a halt in 2003.
"Are you aware that in 2003, Mr. Speaker, that the Democrats left the state in order to prevent us from conducting business," Tinderholt said.2
003 was the first year since Reconstruction that Democrats held a minority in the Texas Legislature, and lawmakers, led by forrmer U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, moved to redraw the state's political boundaries, even though redistricting had been accomplished by the 2001 session following the 2000 Census.
In response, Democrats fled the state and camped out in Ardmore, Ok. They denied the majority Republicans the required two thirds quorum to conduct business.
Tinderholt says there are indications that Democrats are planning another round in response to the conservative agenda put forward by Gov. Abbott.
"We are here and we are spending hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, to get the work of Texans done," he said.
Tinderholt was also concerned that the bill to fine lawmakers who flee the state to avoid a quorum will go to a House Committee with a Democrat chairman. He asked House Speaker Joe Straus (R-Alamo Heights) to assure him that he will not allow the chairman to bog down his proposed resolution.
Straus deferred a ruling on Tinderholt's proposal.
The quorum-busting didn't work out so well for Democrats in 2003, either. The Republican-heavy redistricting map was approved, and it laid the groundwork for 15 years of GOP dominance in Texas politics.