The congressional redistricting standoff intensified Friday as Republican senators voted to enforce fines against 11 boycotting Democrats by taking away their cell phone and parking privileges if they do not return to the Capitol.
The Republicans said the fines are necessary to maintain the rule of law in the Senate and show that a political minority cannot halt legislative action by running away.
[link|http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2051262|URL]