Texas-Sized Fines Voted in Remap Standoff

Republicans in the Texas Senate voted Tuesday to fine 11 fugitive Democrats up to $5,000 a day each to force them to return from New Mexico to vote on a plan that would add Republican seats in the U.S. Congress.

The Democrats angrily vowed that they would not pay the fines and would remain out of state, and out of the reach of Texas police, as long as necessary to stop what they deem a Republican power grab.

The Senate vote came 16 days after the Democrats fled to Albuquerque in neighboring New Mexico to break a quorum in the state Senate and stop a proposal to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

The plan would probably change the makeup of the state’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives from 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans to 22 Republicans and 10 Democrats in the next election, adding to a narrow Republican majority in the House.

“It’s a crime and it’s called official oppression,” Democratic state Sen. Juan Hinojosa said of the proposed fines.

The sanctions, which go into effect on Thursday, follow unsuccessful Republican attempts to first sweet talk the Democrats into coming back, then force their return through legal motions.

The Texas Supreme Court, made up of nine Republicans, Monday rejected the party’s request to order the Democrats home. The Democrats have filed state and federal lawsuits trying to derail the redistricting effort.

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) is pushing the plan, with quiet backing from the White House, on grounds that Republicans deserve more congressional seats from Texas.

Republicans control the state Legislature for first time in 130 years.

Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives fled to Oklahoma for several days in May to stop the same redistricting plan.