June 26, 2013 2:03 AM HK: SENATE TONIGHT WAS CRADDICK REDUX FROM 2007 Torquing rules, refusing recognition of Democrats and playing fast and loose with the rules In an evening reminiscent of the wildest days of Speaker Tom Craddick back in 2007, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst tonight threw out the rule book in an effort to derail Wendy Davis’ filibuster of SB5. Additional casualties were road money, a juvenile justice reform and…oh yes, a memorial resolution for Senator Leticia Van de Putte’s father who died in an automobile accident. Van de Putte returned to the Senate immediately after her father’s funeral only to be refused recognition multiple times. Senate rules provide that three upheld points of order on germaness can provide the basis for the Senate to vote on ending the filibuster. Two questionable Points of Order on germaneness were sustained and one additional one on Senator Davis receiving assistance in the form of a back brace from Senator Ellis -- prohibited but not necessarily fatal. We can’t litigate the rules, but it was clear that no holds were going to be barred in derailing what was surely only a symbolic filibuster. After all, the Governor could bring the Legislature back once again and make it the only item on the call. Some will criticize the crowd in the gallery for going ballistic as the Chair took the floor away from Senator Watson who was appealing the rule of the chair (that will sound familiar to veterans of 2007). Senator Robert Duncan drew the unfortunate duty of presiding over the “appealing the rule of the chair” debacle. Watson never yielded the floor except for parliamentary inquiries. Senator Craig Estes got up, was recognized, forgot what he was going to move and sat back down. Typically, sitting down relinquishes recognition in the Senate. But that was not the case tonight. As the evening drew to its midnight close and the chair refused to recognize Democrats for parliamentary inquiries, the crowd in the gallery and the thousands in the hallway began to chant, “Let Wendy speak”. At about 11:45, with the crowd roaring, Dewhurst signaled the troopers to begin clearing the gallery. While most troopers were polite, the crowd did not want to leave. There will be plenty of video and photos tomorrow of rough handling of young and old alike. Both Democratic and Republican House members lined the walls of the chamber. The best line came from state Rep David Simpson (R-Longview) when he said of the crowd, “How can they be expected to follow the rules if we don’t follow the rules. We ran rough shod over the rules.” The icing on the cake was the date change on Texas Legislature Online that originally reported that the concurrence took place after the midnight deadline but was subsequently rolled back to reflect passage minutes earlier. It was hardball and it was unnecessary. Republicans have never had difficulty rousing their base. It’s too much to call tonight a Pete Wilson moment, but messing with women has become an all too common theme that has not played well for Republicans. By Harvey Kronberg Copyright June 26, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, quorumreport, All rights are reserved
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 07:28:50 +0000
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