Thread: TX-Lack of quorum kills meeting on immigrant screening

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Lack of quorum kills meeting on immigrant screening
By SUSAN CARROLL
Oct. 28, 2009, 8:40PM

Houston - Three City Council members fell short of forcing a vote Wednesday on the city's participation in a controversial immigration screening program after the rest of their colleagues skipped a special meeting.

The city secretary counted only three members — Toni Lawrence, Anne Clutterbuck and Mike Sullivan — present at the afternoon special meeting before it was called off for lack of a quorum. To officially meet on the issue, they would have needed at least eight members of council present.

After the aborted meeting, City Council member Pam Holm joined the trio at a news conference calling for Mayor Bill White to hold a public meeting on whether the city should participate in the 287(g) program, which trains local law enforcement to identify illegal immigrants in the jails.

The lackluster turnout came as little surprise as several council members reported last week that they had scheduling conflicts. Others had called for an informal boycott of the rare special meeting, accusing Lawrence of political “grandstandingâ€

Problem #1 for Houston Mayor White!

[quote]Lawrence said she tried to work with Mayor Bill White on the issue “behind the scenesâ€