Partisan Tempers Flare in Texas Special Session Considering Congressional Redistricting

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 07-01-03 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Sparks fly in Legislature Tempers flare in special session tackling redistricting Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) — Partisan bickering broke out as quickly as the Texas Legislature convened Monday, with House Democrats claiming Republicans were acting as puppets in a congressional redistricting "power grab."

State lawmakers were ordered to return to work by Republican Gov. Rick Perry to consider a GOP-backed redrawing of congressional district lines, an effort pushed by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

"This week is independence week, and we're going to find out this week whether the Texas Legislature is still independent from the partisans in Washington, D.C.," Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, House Democratic Caucus leader, said just before Monday's special session started.

Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, wields the gavel to call to order the special session of the Texas Legislature, Monday, in Austin, Texas. Lawmakers were ordered back to the Capitol by Republican Gov. Rick Perry to consider a GOP-backed redrawing of congressional district lines.

Only a few people out of hundreds at the hearings spoke in favor of it, the Democrats said. New districts that Republicans want would hurt minority and rural voters, said Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.

"We have a clear message for Tom DeLay," Coleman said. "Stop lying about what you're trying to do."

DeLay's office had no immediate response to the Democrats.

In the past, DeLay, a Republican from Sugar Land, has said he wants more Republican members of Congress from Texas.

In the current Congressional District 19, Lubbock is in the same district as Midland, Odessa and Big Spring. Under a Republican alternative, District 19 would take in Lubbock as well as the more eastern cities of Abilene, Eastland and Sweetwater. Midland, Odessa and Big Spring would be in District 11.

Charles Stenholm, the Abilene Democrat who now represents District 17, would, in effect, be drawn out of office.

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, said Monday that he is most concerned about West Texas losing representation.

"Certainly, I love the district I have right now. We spent a lot of time campaigning in the district, so that's my selfish answer," he said. "As far as redistricting, whatever the majority party wants to do with it is fine.

"I'm more concerned about regional representation in Texas and not diluting our representation here in West Texas. We lost a couple of state representatives last time to the east.

"Regardless of what the district looks like, I'll always be a representative for West Texas," Neugebauer said.

Democrats hold a 17-15 advantage in the congressional delegation, even though all statewide elected officials in Texas are Republicans. A map that was backed by DeLay during the regular session in the spring would have likely given Republicans as many as 20 seats in the U.S. House.

Redistricting was so divisive in the 140-day regular session that 51 House Democrats secretly fled to Ardmore, Okla., to block a quorum and halt debate.

Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick ordered state law officers to find and arrest them, but they had crossed the state line and were out of reach of Texas troopers.

Several of those Democrats — known as the Killer Ds — said they will continue to fight redistricting but said they are looking to the Senate Democrats to block the bill in the special session.

Republicans hold a 19-12 edge in the Senate, but under the chamber's rules two-thirds of its 31 members must agree to bring an issue to the floor for debate.

That means the redistricting bill could be killed with 11 votes.

"If it's a good bill, it's a fair bill, meaning it maximizes the majority-minority districts, it represents the voting trends of the state, it's generally fair, I think there'll be 21 votes for it," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate.

[MEG33]

It's time for justice!

[sarasota]

Do I hear the sounds of whiney crybabies? Again?

[MattinNJ]

Whiskey for the men, beer for the horses.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Translation follows:

DemocRats: We drew the district lines to favor US when we were in power. It's not fair to redraw them to favor YOU when you are in power.

[Theodore R.]

The Democrats have an ace-in-the-hole. It takes 21/31 state senators to consider redistricting. At best, the GOP seems to have 19 or 20 votes, 1 or 2 short. Demos know how to win. Even if they have a minority of the votes, their passion can overcome their numerical weakness.

[Roughneck]

Democrats complaining that Republicans are acting as "puppets" ought to first hide the strings attached to their sleeves, and the wires attached to their mouths, by the KLINTONS. . . .

It is true that someone willing to do an act of evil will often ACCUSE OTHERS of the same thing, this is because they cant understand that not everyone thinks as they do. . .

Dummycrats all.

[Blood of Tyrants]

P.S. We have a similar problem in Tennessee except in reverse. For federal offices we overwhelmingly elect Republicans (6 of 9 Representaives and both Senators are Republicans) but the state legislature is in the death grip of the Rats and their carefully gerrymandered districts.

[SwinneySwitch]

"...I think there'll be 21 votes for it," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate."

Demonrats across the country are going to put a lot of pressure on those two democrat Senators!

[fieldmarshaldj]

TX redistricting *ping*

[Theodore R.]

Did Dewhurst say what two Democrats might defect? One, Eddie Lucio, is recovering from heart surgery and may be absent from the floor. Another, Ken Ambrister, represents the heavily Democrat county of Victoria (which is, however, represented in Congress by Republican Ron Paul).

I would be most surprised to see a redistricting plan pass. The Democrats are very passionate AGAINST this, and they are not accustomed to losing, even when their candidates fail.

[Redbob]

The Fox TV channel in Dallas last night had a report on the first day's session, and devoted the entire report to Dims whining.

I was especially amused to here one Rep. Jose (or whatever) Villareal of San Antonio say "What are we doing here? The voters have already spoken."
Then he said "We had a hearing in San Antonio and 400 people showed up to testify against redistricting."
(Are there only 400 voters in SA? Did they hold elections at those hearings? Were only registered voters allowed to speak?)

And here I thought when he said "The voters have spoken" he was referring to the fact that nearly 60% of Texas voters vote Republican, and there hasn't been a statewide Dim majority since 1990!

[ken5050]

I think the GOP has this one inn the bag....else they wouldn't have called the session...Why hand the Dems a PR victory....watch the minority Dems...they weren't happy about the last boycott....

[Redbob]

Properly managed, they can find a couple Dims to go along with them - then perhaps change parties. I think there'll be at least a couple Dims tired of being in the minority pretty soon, with no hope of regaining control of the legislature anytime soon.

[Theodore R.]

Maybe you are right, but Democrats in TX continued to win on policy and personnel even as their candidates went down to defeat statewide. The Democrats are really fighting hard to keep the same districting scheme. They say that if the Republicans had been more competitive, 20 of the 32 districts would already be in GOP hands, instead of just 15.

[ken5050]

The Dem party is Texas is split..you have the conservative Blue Dogs, and the hard lib/left minority Dems, and all you keeping them together is Molly Beth Malcom.....(g)...the GOP will peel off enough minority Dems to pull this off...they'll give them a few safe districts, as well as guarantees that their legislative proposals will be considered....that's far more than the dem party as a whole can do for them...the recognize that they're swimming upstream against a big flood, they're trying to extract whatever concessions they can...I'll wager you that when the final vote comes, more than just the 1 or 2 Dems will vote for it...there's safety in numbers..

[TheDon]

""This week is independence week, and we're going to find out this week whether the Texas Legislature is still independent from the partisans in Washington, D.C.," Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, House Democratic Caucus leader, said just before Monday's special session started."

Snicker, snicker. It's nice to see the Pubs kick some butt for a change.

[longtermmemmory]

wait isn't the article wrong, in special session it requires a mere majority to bring an issue to vote?

[isthisnickcool]

Only a few people out of hundreds at the hearings spoke in favor of it, the Democrats said. New districts that Republicans want would hurt minority and rural voters, said Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston. We have a clear message for Tom DeLay," Coleman said. "Stop lying about what you're trying to do."

Garnet Coleman? Garnet always seemed like a little weiner. I knew Garnet's family when I was in high school. A private school. I don't think Garnet or any of his siblings ever saw the inside of a public school. His dad, John B. Coleman, was a doctor (Steve Forbes said Dr. Coleman did abortions) and a real mover and shaker in Houston politics. Who became very wealthy from various businesses he was involved in. They lived in a big house of North MacGregor. Nice place. Garnet was a rich kid. By the way, his own kids go to private schools too. At least when Garnet is not assaulting the teacher.

Garnet makes some money selling ice cream at Hobby Airport (Peacole Ice Cream) along with ex houston city councilman John Peavy and with his consulting firm (Coleman Strategies) which appears to make some of it's money by promoting Democratic campaigns. Garnet isn't doing bad. He has a new house he built in 2002. 4000+ sq. ft. But what's odd is that it's only on the tax rolls for $141,170. Gee, that's low. With a pool too. And that's over in the medical center area. Why, Garnet's neighbor is selling his house which is nearly 40 years older and 1,000 sq. ft. smaller for $389,000. Garnet sure has a good deal on his taxes! How does he do it???

Garnet has a problem with redistricting? I bet he does!

[Theodore R.]

You have committed a cardinal sin of politics -- you have exposed a Democrat for hypocrisy. It is permissible to expose only Republicans for hypocrisy. And if there is no hypocrisy, you can always fall back on "Republican greed." But no Democrat greed -- that is off the table and unbelieved by the masses, who believe that the Democrats only "care" about THEM.