Here is The Dallas Morning News report this morning:
Partisan shouting breaks out on first day of special sessionIn Austin, tensions run high over redistricting
07/01/2003
AUSTIN – Amid high stakes and hard feelings, lawmakers on both sides of a bitter partisan divide clashed Monday as the Legislature opened its special session to redraw the state's congressional districts.
A shouting match erupted at a House hearing where Republicans blocked an effort by outnumbered Democrats to derail the session. And on the Capitol steps, Democrats denounced the effort as a "power grab" by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to boost GOP numbers in Congress.
Republicans defended the redistricting session called by Gov. Rick Perry, saying they were redoing generations of partisan gerrymandering to reflect rising GOP strength in Texas.
"My objective," declared Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, "is to send four or five Republicans, in addition to what we have, to Washington to help President Bush with his agenda."
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(from the Texas Legialtive Council)More Politics The partisan fireworks Monday underscored deeply held feelings as Democrats fight to hold a 17-15 advantage in Congress and the GOP – at the behest of Mr. DeLay and the White House – presses for a new map that would seal Republican domination of Texas politics.
"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.," said Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco and leader of the House Democratic Caucus.
Although House Democrats were at the heart of the heated debate Monday, they acknowledged that the outcome probably would be decided in the 31-member Senate.
At least two Democratic senators served notice that they might vote with the Republican majority if they felt the new boundaries were fair and their constituents were well served.
Sen. Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria, said he wants Republican congressional leaders to assure more funding for trauma care, public education and highways.
Sen. Frank Madla, D-San Antonio, said that he's keeping an open mind and that he hadn't forgotten how Democratic mapmakers did him no favors in 1991 when they trimmed the number of Hispanic voters in his district to favor a colleague.
"I've not made up my mind," he said. "I'm praying on the issue."
Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownville, who had been considered a possible swing vote, said he had no intention of voting with the Republicans to take up redistricting.
Perry called session
Mr. Perry called the 30-day special session on redistricting after lawmakers failed to pass a new map during the regular session that ended June 2. Rather than vote on the issue, 51 House Democrats fled to Ardmore, Okla., to block a quorum and halt debate.
Democrats said Monday that they're not likely to repeat the walkout but signaled that emotions were still running high.
A routine opening-day resolution that directs the chamber's speaker to dispatch a delegation of state representatives to notify the governor and the Senate that the House is ready to do business was scuttled when some Democrats objected.
Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston, complained about a hastily announced set of House committee hearings, saying they were more cosmetic than serious efforts to enlist public testimony.
Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner of Houston, a Democratic ally of the House GOP leadership, withdrew his resolution in the face of a withering show of Democratic discontent.
Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said it was just a formality, anyway. "I think the Senate probably knows we're here, and so does the governor," he said.
The House Redistricting Committee hearing erupted into a raucous exchange between Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, and Robert Talton, R-Pasadena.
Rising tension at one point prompted committee chairman Joe Crabb, R-Atascocita, to recess the committee and restore order.
But Mr. Raymond and Mr. Talton clashed again once the hearing resumed.
"I know how to yell, too, Robert," Mr. Raymond shouted.
"That's OK, but you don't get your facts right," replied Mr. Talton.
Their voices rising, Mr. Talton called Mr. Raymond a liar.
"Mr. Chairman, I don't have to listen to some member sit here and call me a liar," Mr. Raymond shouted. "Why don't you get after him?"
Mr. Crabb scolded both members. "I'm going to admonish both of you," he said. "Do you both understand?"
Committee actions
Amid the testy exchanges, the committee did conduct business.
Led by Mr. Crabb, the committee rejected an effort by Democrats to adjourn the House Redistricting Committee until transcripts from the field hearings around the state were made available to members.
The committee also nixed a move to adjourn the committee and go home based on the overwhelming public sentiment against changing district maps expressed at the hearings.
Mr. King said he expected to file a redistricting map with the committee on Tuesday.
Rep. Dianne White Delisi, R-Temple, is also expected to file a plan.
Mr. King said his efforts were delayed by last week's Supreme Court case on redistricting that could affect how minority districts are drawn.
He also wanted to mitigate his original proposal's impact on Travis County. That plan split the county in four sections.
"We're trying to respond to the concerns we heard during the hearing process," Mr. King said. "If it will help pass the bill, I'm going to try to reduce that to two or three cuts."
Testimony on the redistricting bill is expected to be heard in a House committee this week, with full House debate by next week.
Usually, the Legislature shifts state and congressional district lines every 10 years based on population changes from the latest census. In 2001, lawmakers could not agree on how to do that, so federal judges drew a map.
Staff writer Robert T. Garrett in Austin contributed to this report.
E-mail wslater@dallasnews.com
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