DeLay, FAA Roles in Tex. Redistricting Flap Detailed

[ibegurpard]

A request from the office of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) for information about an airplane he suspected was carrying Texas Democrats from the state legislature ultimately led the Federal Aviation Agency to issue a special lookout for the plane in May, U.S. officials said yesterday.

(more)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45535-2003Jul11.html?referrer=emailarticle

[gulliver]

1. OK. I propose a new web site.

We'll just have volunteers gather the same kind of "public information" DeLay gathered from the FAA on the Dems. Except we'll request that information on every Republican leader in the country and post it on the web. Hey, if it's public information, it's public information.

But I think it's abuse of the system as Lieberman says.

on edit: clarify

[Nottingham]

2. It looks like a Police state! in the eyes of Democrats

Abuse of power is right! And when Tom Delay snaps his fingers people jump! :bounce:

[dusty64]

3. Looks like they will

get the repig redistricting plan through and get away with the fatherland "security" outrage.

[ibegurpard]

4. kick

:kick:

[pa28]

5. Misuse of resources

Delay wanted Clinton to pay cash for the cost of his own witch-hunt. I think it's fair then for Delay to reimburse the government for the misuse of these highly paid FAA specialists. Perhaps this could be part of a plea-bargain.

[dmr]

6. This is good, though -

- snip -

In a related development, a judge ruled the Texas Department of Public Safety lacks the legal authority to track down and arrest rebellious state lawmakers who break a quorum. The ruling issued Thursday finds fault with attempts to round up 51 state House Democrats who fled to Oklahoma.

Texas law "limits the role of DPS to enforcing the laws protecting the public safety and providing for the prevention and detection of crime," visiting state District Judge Charles Campbell in Austin wrote, ruling in a lawsuit filed by one of the lawmakers who fled, Rep. Lon Burnam of Fort Worth.

[Rose Siding]

7. So when will Craddick and Perry be arrested....

for abuse of power?

[sandlapper]

8. How is it an "abuse"?

The Texas Constitution says:

"Article 3 - LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 10 - QUORUM; ADJOURNMENTS FROM DAY TO DAY; COMPELLING ATTENDANCE
Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide."

That is a rather blanket grant of power isn't it?

[Rose Siding]

9. That's not how the judge saw it.

The use of DPS to "compel the attendence" was excluded from the limits of its role. That appears to be misuse, doesn't it?


snip from the article>
Texas law "limits the role of DPS to enforcing the laws protecting the public safety and providing for the prevention and detection of crime," visiting state District Judge Charles Campbell in Austin wrote, ruling in a lawsuit filed by one of the lawmakers who fled, Rep. Lon Burnam of Fort Worth.