Missing Democrats doom budget measure

[rainbow4321]

What the hell was this about?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3135596


Seven Democratic state representatives, three from Houston, found reasons to be absent recently when the House voted on a key Democratic budget amendment.

The measure would have passed had they voted for it, and some of their party-mates claim at least some of them walked to gain favor with Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick, who opposed the amendment.

The amendment by Rep. Jose Menendez of San Antonio would have restored a $1,000 health stipend to teachers and other school employees that was cut in 2003. It failed by five votes.

<snip>

But party stalwarts are watching Turner and the other Democrats on the leadership team, referring to them as Craddick Democrats for being more loyal to the speaker than some Republicans.

[NoPasaran]

1. Goddamned Craddick Democrats!

Their heads need to roll next March!

[Longhorn]

2. I went to high school with Sylvester Turner.

We were friends and I've talked to him recently at reunions. If he walked on purpose, I think he would admit it, though he is definitely a politician! He is also one of the few Democrats who didn't go to Oklahoma last session.

[redqueen]

3. It shouldn't be this difficult to find information.

The House website isn't very helpful. x(

Anyone else know which other Dems didn't vote?

[rainbow4321]

4. Here's 5 of them listed and blog entries

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/stategov/stories/MYSA040805.15A.lege_craddick.1b73ff440.html

The missing Democrats included Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner of Houston; Appropriations Vice Chairwoman Vilma Luna of Corpus Christi; Business & Industry Chairwoman Helen Giddings of Dallas; General Investigating & Ethics Committee Chairman Kevin Bailey of Houston; and Rules and Resolutions Chairman Al Edwards, also of Houston.


http://www.savetexasreps.com/index.php?p=80

A few moments later when they voted on the passage of the amendment, Representatives Vilma Luna, Al Edwards, Kevin Bailey, Helen Giddings, and Sylvester Turner (all Craddick Democrats) were no where to be found. With them absent, the amendment failed on a 70-73 vote. Even 13 Republicans joined in voting to provide the health insurance stipends – this was a no brainer vote and the Craddick D’s failed the test of leadership. I’m happy to say that Rep. Mike Villareal stood with us on this bill. Thanks Mike!

By succumbing to pressure from the Republican leadership, these supposed Democrats walked away from helping Texas teachers and school employees get a state mandated health insurance stipend for whom many this was the only way to afford health care.

If Vilma Luna, Al Edwards, Sylvester Turner, Helen Giddings and Kevin Bailey are going to side with the Republican’s on core Democratic issues, they should either swap parties now or expect to hear about this again from a primary opponent

http://www.ccaft.org/tft-hotlines/2005-04/apr-06.htm

Bid to Restore Health-Care Stipend for All School Employees Falls Just Three Votes Short

When the speaker's allies eventually moved to table the Menendez amendment, they got a surprise. Their motion to table was defeated, 81 to 66. But that was just the beginning of the fight. The speaker's team shifted into high gear to defeat the ensuing motion by Menendez to add his amendment to the state budget plan for the next two years. The Menendez amendment lost by three votes, 70 to 73. According to the unofficial record of the vote, 56 Democrats and 14 Republicans took your side and tried to restore the full stipend for all support employees as well as teachers and other certified professional staff. The votes against restoring your full stipend came from 73 Republicans. Seven members, all Democrats, were absent on this key vote. Normally the speaker does not vote, but Speaker Craddick knew this one was going to be a squeaker, so he made sure his own vote was recorded against the Menendez amendment and thus against you.

Once we double-check the accuracy of the unofficial tally, we will report to you in the hotline and on our Web site how every member of the House voted (or failed to vote) on this key issue. House members who took your side, starting first and foremost with Rep. Menendez, need to hear a loud and clear "thank you" from the school employees in their districts. Representatives who voted no on the Menendez amendment also need to hear from you; they need to know you are well aware that they sided against you. The reps who were absent, unless they had one heck of a good excuse, need to be asked why they weren't there for you at the crucial moment when their votes could have tipped the balance.

Though the restoration of the $1,000 stipend did not pass on this try, other bills coming up this session still present opportunities for similar amendments. Remember to use that TFT toll-free line to the capitol, 1-888-836-8368, during regular business hours. And send that "Give Us Our Money Back!" letter from the TFT Web site, www.tft.org, if you have not done so already. You certainly know fellow school employees who have not sent that letter; ask them to send it immediately and to join our ongoing campaign to win the restoration of the $1,000. Keep up the pressure, and we just might win this battle yet!

[redqueen]

5. Thank you!

:hi: