Sen. Cornyn's comments on Courtroom violence concern Texas authorities

...for a distinguished career as a courageous bipartisan leader in his state. Senator Ratliff’s most recent act of courage was to fight for a fair and democratic electoral process, becoming the only Republican legislator to object to his party’s redistricting plan. This principled action was the culmination of a distinguished career in Texas politics. Ratliff largely wrote and secured passage of landmark education legislation. He also worked to improve health insurance and access to Medicaid, while maintaining an inclusive style of governing in an era of sharp partisan politics.

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Senator Ratliff has five times made Texas Monthly magazine’s prestigious “Best Legislators” roundup since coming to the Legislature in 1989. As Chair of the Texas Senate Education Committee, he secured passage of a controversial law dubbed “Robin Hood” by its opponents. This bill redistributed a percentage of property taxes from wealthy school districts to poorer ones. During his third legislative session, he completely rewrote Texas’ outdated public education code on his laptop computer. Later as chair of the powerful finance committee, he twice oversaw the state’s $100 billion-plus budget. During his 2001 legislative session, many attributed the spirit of civility directly to the new Lieutenant Governor’s calm and inclusive leadership style. Among the most recent session’s achievements were much needed schoolteachers’ health insurance plan and easier access to Medicaid.

When Texas Republicans announced plans to draw new district lines in Texas for the second time since the 2000 census, Senator Ratliff broke ranks with his party and opposed the redistricting plan. As the sole dissenting Republican, Ratliff nearly derailed his party’s efforts to pass it. Ratliff’s vote denied the GOP the two-thirds majority it needed to carry out the plan. But Ratliff’s action led Lt. Governor David Dewhurst to abandon the two-thirds rule, which prompted eleven Democrats to flee the state to New Mexico, where they remained for weeks in order to deprive Senate Republicans of a quorum.

Anticipating Dewhurst’s decision, Ratliff said, “It is a serious mistake, because if that should happen, the Texas legislature will slide down that slope of a completely partisan operation on both sides.” Four months after the standoff ended, Ratliff announced his resignation, and he requested a special election to fill his seat two years before his term expired. The GOP eventually won the battle to draw new district lines.

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