Posted on 04/30/2003 6:16:50 PM PDT by Gracey
Dear Texas Republican,
Legislation that would fairly redraw current congressional districts is being considered in the House Redistricting Committee. The committee will be holding hearings on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3 regarding the problems with the current map, and what action needs to be taken in drawing fairer congressional lines. Details on the committee meetings follow this message.
The current districts, which were put in place in 2001 by a federal court and not the legislature, do not accurately reflect Texas voting trends. For example, in 2002 Republican congressional candidates won 56% of all votes cast - but Republicans only hold 47% of congressional seats. Clearly, the current districts have been gerrymandered to protect Democrat incumbents.
The map issued by the court was a stopgap measure and was not intended to usurp the legislature of its responsibility in drawing a final map.
In its ruling creating the current lines, the Federal Court said that it was left the "unwelcome obligation of performing in the legislature's stead." Starting with blank map of the state, the court first drew in existing minority-majority districts protected by the Voting Rights Act. Second, the court created two new districts that Texas gained because of population growth. Third, it "looked to the general historic locations of districts in the state" and then checked its final map to make sure that it was not "avoidably detrimental to Members of Congress of either party holding unique, major leadership posts." In other words, they drew a map that met the bare minimum legal requirements while protecting incumbent congressmen.
The court in no way attempted to draw a map that accurately reflected voting trends in Texas. The court further stated that creating additional minority or Republican districts, in accordance with population and electoral changes since the last census, is "a quintessentially legislative decision."
In a recent opinion on the legislature's role in congressional redistricting in 2003, Attorney General Greg Abbott wrote, "The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that 'legislative reapportionment is primarily a matter for legislative consideration and determination'. because an elected legislature is the institution best positioned to reconcile conflicting goals in the people's name."
General Abbott also cited the words of another court that had taken up redistricting after a legislative body failed to act: "Like our predecessors faced with the task in the 1990s, we [the court] encourage the General Assembly and the Governor to work together to adopt any plan that could improve upon what we have done. They are, of course, in the best position to do so. We have done our best in the interim."
Today the Texas Legislature has the opportunity to fulfill its constitutional duties and improve upon the interim districts issued by the Federal Court by enacting a permanent congressional map that accurately reflects Texas.
ACTION ITEMS
! Call your state representative and tell them to support new, fair congressional lines that accurately reflect Texas.
! Please fax a letter to your representative in support of correcting the gerrymandered congressional districts, especially if your representative sits on the House Redistricting Committee.
! Please consider testifying before the House Redistricting Committee this Friday or Saturday in Austin. It is critically important that members of the committee hear from those who want fair congressional districts that reflect Texas.
Democrats, led by liberal Congressman Martin Frost of Arlington, will stop at nothing to maintain the current gerrymandered lines and protect their own careers - including the possible theft of a Republican redistricting map (read more info here: http://www.thehill.com/news/043003/map.aspx).
MORE INFORMATION
House Redistricting Committee Hearings May 2, 2003 @ 2:00 PM or upon final adjournment/recess in E2.036 May 3, 2003 @ 10:00 AM or upon final adjournment/recess in E2.036
Members of the House Redistricting Committee http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees/080.htm
Find out who represents you http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm
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Help eradicate Rep. Martin Frost.
Thoughts gentlemen?
Or send him to jail for aiding and abeting the three who stole for him!!
In the Senate, because of the "Rose Bush Relocation Bill" it takes 21 of 31 to get it to the floor.
More pressure never hurts however!
In short, they will need a full scale nationwide freeping to push this thing through. But first, let's take care of the House which looks a surer bet right now. Once it passes the House - and I am confident it will - we will have the momentum to use against the Senate.
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