Innermost Thought

AUSTIN, Texas - State troopers and the elite Texas Rangers were ordered to track down and bring in 59 Democratic lawmakers who brought the Texas House to a standstill Monday by going into hiding.

The quorum-busting boycott capped months of tension between Democrats and the newly-in-control Republicans, and occurred as the chamber was scheduled to debate a congressional redistricting plan opposed by Democrats.

The parties have also clashed over a bill to limit lawsuits and a GOP budget that would avoid new taxes but make deep spending cuts.

GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick locked down the House chamber so lawmakers who did show up Monday morning could not leave. After a roll call, he ordered the missing lawmakers arrested and brought back to the chamber.

"It is a disgrace to run and hide," Craddick said.

Most of the missing lawmakers had said they planned to leave the state to avoid arrest.

The Texas House cannot convene without at least 100 of the 150 members present, and 59 of the 62 Democrats were absent. There are 88 Republicans. The three Democrats who remained are Craddick allies.

Fifty-three Democrats had sent the House leadership letters saying they would be absent.

"I do not know where they are," said Tamara Bell, chief of staff for House Democratic caucus chairman Jim Dunnam.

House rules allow for the arrest of members who intentionally thwart a quorum.

As the rebellion took shape during the weekend, the Democrats broke up into small groups, with only their team leaders knowing the details of their travels. They were told to pack enough clothes and necessities to last four days.

"I don't know where we're going. I don't know how we're going to get there," one Democratic lawmaker told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he packed before a Sunday night rendezvous.

House Democrats said they were taking a stand for fair treatment of the minority party.

"We refuse to participate in an inherently unfair process that slams the door of opportunity in the face of Texas voters," they said in a statement read by state Sen. Rodney Ellis.

Republicans gained control of the chamber in November for the first time since Reconstruction.

If the Democrats stay away through Thursday — the deadline for preliminary passage of House bills — they could derail major pending bills considered priorities by Republicans.

Three weeks are left in the legislative session. Craddick said Republican Gov. Rick Perry assured him he would call a special session if necessary after the regular session ends June 2.

"These legislators have been elected and paid to come to work by hardworking Texans," the governor said in a statement. "They are asked to work for 140 days every two years — not to hide out because they don't like the way the debate is going."

However, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, sounded a conciliatory note: "It's not going to cause a total meltdown of the Democratic process. ... This is kind of a little temper tantrum. That's allowed in democracy."

The walkout came 24 years to the month after a dozen state senators defied then-Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby by refusing to show up at the Capitol.

The "Killer Bees," as the 12 became known, hid out in an Austin apartment while troopers, Rangers and legislative sergeants-at-arms unsuccessfully combed the state for them.

Craddick dubbed Monday's rebels "the Chicken Ds."