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American Morning
Democratic Texas Legislators Back in Lone Star State
Aired May 16, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Democratic Texas legislators who had found refuge in Oklahoma for four days are now back in the Lone Star State. In the next hour, they are expected to return to the state capital in Austin. They say they accomplished their mission, killing for now a Republican backed redistricting plan.
Our Ed Lavandera has been following this very unusual story and is live from Austin right now -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.
Well, the Democrats, as they were making their way down Interstate 35 from Oklahoma to Austin, Texas and the state capital, they declared victory along the way, a joyous occasion, in their minds, as they were driving down the interstate.
They arrived here at the state capital about four in the morning. They've gone home to freshen up a little bit and in about a half hour there will be a rally where Democrats from across the state of Texas, we're told, will be showing up. A couple of hundred people expected to show up at the steps of the capital to welcome home these Democratic representatives who they say are, have fought very hard over the last four days, essentially bringing the Texas House to the standstill.
While they were in Oklahoma, no business was conducted on the House floor. Representatives left to conduct meetings in committee hearings and that sort of thing, but that's all they've been able to do at this point. Republicans still very angry, although they're not using the words cowards and chickens anymore, but they do say that the Democratic political stunt has cost the lives of about 500 bills that were supposed to have been passed out of the House this week and they're costing the state of Texas about $700 million, as well.
So while they're, the political overtones here have calmed down quite a bit in the last couple of days, one Democratic law maker told me yesterday that as these Democrats who go back to work here, that they should be watching their backs, that there's still a lot of angry Republicans here -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Ed, could this proposal ever have a comeback?
LAVANDERA: Well, actually, it could. There is some talk, and it's not exactly clear what will happen, but this legislative session ends in early June and there is some talk that perhaps there would be a special session called for the summer. And it's up to the governor to do that. And if that happens, the Republicans could bring up this redistricting bill again. And I guess that's the question, will these Democrats go to the same lengths to keep this bill from coming up for a vote again?
So we'll have to wait and see how that plays out.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ed Lavandera from Austin.
Thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 16, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Democratic Texas legislators who had found refuge in Oklahoma for four days are now back in the Lone Star State. In the next hour, they are expected to return to the state capital in Austin. They say they accomplished their mission, killing for now a Republican backed redistricting plan.
Our Ed Lavandera has been following this very unusual story and is live from Austin right now -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Fredricka.
Well, the Democrats, as they were making their way down Interstate 35 from Oklahoma to Austin, Texas and the state capital, they declared victory along the way, a joyous occasion, in their minds, as they were driving down the interstate.
They arrived here at the state capital about four in the morning. They've gone home to freshen up a little bit and in about a half hour there will be a rally where Democrats from across the state of Texas, we're told, will be showing up. A couple of hundred people expected to show up at the steps of the capital to welcome home these Democratic representatives who they say are, have fought very hard over the last four days, essentially bringing the Texas House to the standstill.
While they were in Oklahoma, no business was conducted on the House floor. Representatives left to conduct meetings in committee hearings and that sort of thing, but that's all they've been able to do at this point. Republicans still very angry, although they're not using the words cowards and chickens anymore, but they do say that the Democratic political stunt has cost the lives of about 500 bills that were supposed to have been passed out of the House this week and they're costing the state of Texas about $700 million, as well.
So while they're, the political overtones here have calmed down quite a bit in the last couple of days, one Democratic law maker told me yesterday that as these Democrats who go back to work here, that they should be watching their backs, that there's still a lot of angry Republicans here -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Ed, could this proposal ever have a comeback?
LAVANDERA: Well, actually, it could. There is some talk, and it's not exactly clear what will happen, but this legislative session ends in early June and there is some talk that perhaps there would be a special session called for the summer. And it's up to the governor to do that. And if that happens, the Republicans could bring up this redistricting bill again. And I guess that's the question, will these Democrats go to the same lengths to keep this bill from coming up for a vote again?
So we'll have to wait and see how that plays out.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ed Lavandera from Austin.
Thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
