Posted on 07/24/2003 7:25:24 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Committee passes redistricting bill
BY NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN - A Senate committee on Wednesday adopted a map of new congressional districts that likely would give the Texas GOP an advantage over the state's Democrats in Washington, but the plan seemed doomed this special legislative session.
The Senate Jurisprudence Committee approved the measure 4-3 on a party line vote.
Sen. Todd Staples of Palestine, who chairs the Senate Republican Caucus, sponsored the map, which he unveiled Wednesday. He said it was fair and balanced.
"Clearly I think the map that I laid before you today respects rural, east, west and south Texas and the Panhandle in enabling them to elect a candidate of their choice," Staples said.
Democrats objected to the map's passage, saying that most people who testified at public hearings didn't want lawmakers to take up redistricting.
"The redrawing of congressional district lines in spite of overwhelming public opposition amounts to the commission (of) an enormous abuse of the public trust," Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, told the committee.
Staples' map appears as though it could give Texas Republicans as many as 22 seats in Congress, compared to 10 seats for Democrats, though Staples would not confirm that figure. Democrats now have a 17-15 majority in the delegation.
Lawmakers failed to draw congressional districts during the 2001 legislative session, leaving federal judges to create the current plan. The GOP, led by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land, says that recent voting trends show Republicans should have more representation in the Texas congressional delegation.
Despite the committee's approval, it appeared the bill was headed for failure this session.
Eleven Senate Democrats and one Republican have said they are opposed to taking up redistricting. Under Senate rules, two-thirds of the chamber, or 21 senators, must support a bill for it to be debated. Opposition from 11 senators is enough to kill the bill in the 31-member chamber, and Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he would leave that rule in place this session.
However, Republican Gov. Rick Perry is widely expected to call a second special legislative session on redistricting if a bill does not get approved by Tuesday, when this session ends.
If Perry does that, Dewhurst said he will do away with the two-thirds rule so that only a majority of senators would have to support the bill for it to get a debate on the floor.
Democrats say they are weighing their options, including boycotting the Senate, under that scenario.
Republicans tried to push redistricting during the regular legislative session but House Democrats fled the state in May. That move broke a quorum in the chamber and killed the redistricting bill.
The map the committee approved keeps the Central Texas counties of Bell, Coryell and McLennan in one district; splits Webb County along the Texas-Mexico border into two districts; and divides Travis County into three districts.
One district starts in Travis County and winds its way south to Hidalgo County along the border. Another district, currently represented by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, starts in Travis County and heads east into Harris county.
Another Central Texas region starts in Bastrop County, heads east to Aransas County and then makes it way south to Cameron County, also along the border.
The map also groups Victoria County into a district that includes Brazoria and Galveston Counties as well as part of Harris County.
Under the map, Rep. Martin Frost, D-Arlington, could likely lose his seat if he seeks re-election because he would be pitted against Republican Rep. Joe Barton of Ennis and the proposed district is majority Republican.
Other congressman that would be paired in the same district, meaning they could be forced to run against each other are: Reps. Gene Green, D-Houston, and Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont; Chris Bell, D-Houston, and John Culberson, R-Houston; and John Carter, R-Round Rock, and Jim Turner, D-Crockett.
The plan keeps the cities of Lubbock and Midland in one district, a combination that could face opposition from the Texas House. Republican Speaker Tom Craddick wanted a congressional district based in his home city of Midland.
The House plan placed the two cities in different districts, but that map was met with criticism from Republican and Democratic senators.
Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said the map the Senate committee approved hurts minority political participation.
Staples said the map will not be the final map the Legislature adopts and encouraged his colleagues to work with him.
"Come join us and make this a better map," Staples aid. "Let us work together to develop a map that seeks to satisfy us all."
07/24/03
Yeah, But even just a few could help, nullify the the RINOs in the house...the ability to move the tax reforms, tort reforms, gov'mint reforms, tellin' the Eco-terrorist wackos to !@#$%^&*&^%$#@!...Hmmm, Your tagline...first, If she lives that long...she really needs to eat...other than that, she's fine ;)
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