Free Republic

Abortion bill on parental consent still alive in Senate after failing in House ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN (AP) - A House bill requiring parental consent on abortion failed on a technical point Thursday, but lawmakers are looking to the Senate for another way to pass the measure. The House proposal by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, would have required girls younger than 18 to get consent from one of their parents before having an abortion. A disappointed King, who watched similar bills fail in 1999, 2001 and 2003, said the measure is something Texas parents want. "We don't let minors get any...

State denies redistricting map drawn to harm minority blocs AUSTIN (AP) — Attorneys for the state defended a congressional district map in a federal courtroom Thursday, attempting to disprove plaintiffs' arguments that the new lines were drawn with racially discriminatory intent, violating the Voting Rights Act. Attorney Andy Taylor questioned a map drawer about the intent with which each of the 32 districts was created by the Texas Legislature. "I'm not aware of splits made to break up minority blocks," said Bill Davis, a former Republican state legislator and lobbyist who testified as the state began its case in the...

DeLay continues effort to end Texas redistricting squabble Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was in the Texas Capitol for a second consecutive day Tuesday, attempting to broker an agreement between state lawmakers squabbling over a congressional redistricting map. With Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Speaker Tom Craddick and Gov. Rick Perry out of town, DeLay and other lawmakers indicated that negotiators were making progress on a map that would put more Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation. "We are very, very close," De Lay said, leaving a morning meeting in Dewhurst's office. "The lieutenant...

Legislators eye juggling primary date Negotiators sweat over map while clock keeps on ticking AUSTIN (AP) — Texas' Republican leaders seem to have no qualms about taking Texas out of the "Super Tuesday" primary next year in order to incorporate still-developing changes in congressional lines onto the ballot. But as options narrow with each tick of the clock, some Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature say they are not convinced that delaying the state's primary is in the best interest of Texas. As Republican House and Senate negotiators continue to toil over a district map that would put more GOP...

Presidential primary at risk in feud AUSTIN (AP) — The state's role in presidential politics could be a casualty of Republican infighting over West Texas boundaries in the effort to redraw congressional districts. Weary and sometimes angry lawmakers seemed to give up Sunday on reaching an agreement on new congressional districts in time to make the changes and still hold the Texas primary March 2. And tension continued to build among legislators Sunday. At one point, an abbreviated House session erupted in a shouting match between House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and a dozen Democrats trying to force a vote...

House, Senate negotiators bicker as deadline looms BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - Adopting new Texas congressional district lines without delaying next year's primary election seemed increasingly unlikely Saturday as a key House negotiator called the Senate's latest proposal impossible. House and Senate negotiators are working around the clock to agree on a map that would increase the number of Republicans from Texas in Congress. Republican Gov. Rick Perry has called Monday the "drop dead date" to approve a map without affecting the state's March 2 primary. But there is a constitutionally required 24-hour waiting period between when...

Stalemate in redistricting dispute BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN (AP) - House and Senate Republicans remained at odds on congressional redistricting Tuesday and one of the lead negotiators said he hopes a fourth special session won't be necessary for both chambers to agree on a new map. It appeared Tuesday that Gov. Rick Perry's preferred Wednesday deadline would be missed. "Obviously we want to get it done before the end of session so the governor doesn't have to call a fourth one," said Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, the House point man for negotiations. "But, I've done it three...

'Lightning bolt' map gets dim reception Perry's plan draws little local support By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL AUSTIN — A congressional redistricting map created by the Governor's Office was released Monday as a compromise, but it was quickly rejected by some of the West Texas lawmakers it was drawn to appease. The map drastically alters all three West Texas districts and adds the potential for a fourth. The map addresses only the western portion of the state, which has been a bone of contention between House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock. The new map does not...

Map gets third thumbs up House passes plan weakening area representation Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas House voted to accept a Republican-drawn congressional redistricting map Tuesday that weakens West Texas farm representation in Congress. For the third time this summer, the House approved the map sponsored by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, that would likely give Texas Republicans an edge over Democrats in Congress. The vote was 77-60 with four present but not voting. Delwin Jones and Carl Isett, both Lubbock Republicans, voted against the plan. The map also gives House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, a congressional district separate...

King unveils final redistricting proposal BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - Republican Rep. Phil King unveiled what he says will likely be his final congressional redistricting proposal Thursday, a day after he temporarily withdrew another map to make some changes in the Dallas and Houston areas. King, of Weatherford, said those changes were necessary to protect minority interests under the federal Voting Rights Act, but that essentially the map is the same one he made public earlier this week. One change restores District 24 in the Dallas area, where Democrat Martin Frost is the incumbent congressman. "There's nothing...

King on redistricting 'Republicans not setting dangerous precedent' BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer AUSTIN - Phil King, a key Republican legislator in the congressional redistricting battle, recently responded to questions that have plagued Democrat legislators and statewide opponents of redistricting. Standing in the basement of the Capitol on Monday afternoon, King replied to frequently asked questions about the controversial Republican-led plan that could send five to eight more Republicans to Washington. King, a Republican state representative from Weatherford (located just west of Dallas), is a member of the House Redistricting Committee. He stated that he has worked around the...