AUSTIN -- The Texas Supreme Court on Monday rejected efforts by Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to force 11 boycotting Democratic state senators to return to the Capitol for a special legislative session on congressional redistricting.

Dewhurst expressed disappointment over the order but also said he will ask the Senate majority today to consider "appropriate measures against absent members," such as monetary penalties for each day they are absent.

The Democrats, meanwhile, filed a federal lawsuit claiming procedures being used by Republicans to pass a redistricting plan violate minority voting rights. In a letter to President Bush, the Democrats said the Republican redistricting effort "smacks of blatant racism by Republican leaders."

The senators fled July 28 to Albuquerque, N.M., to keep the Senate from meeting. That is the same day Perry called a second 30-day special session to pass a redistricting plan that would make up to seven Democratic congressional seats vulnerable to Republican takeover in next year's elections.

Despite Monday's setback before the state Supreme Court, Perry said he remains committed to redrawing congressional district boundaries in special session.