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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...

Following the leader? What leader? Thursday, September 25, 2003 The Democratic senators are back in the Capitol. But congressional redistricting isn't a done deal — this time because of the Republicans. They might have a tougher time agreeing on a map than they did getting the Democrats to return. Perry, who declined to call a special session after the Legislature couldn't agree on a map in 2001, could have escaped involvement had redistricting happened in the regular session last spring. But once House Democrats shut that down by heading to Oklahoma, Perry's job forced his involvement — if he considered...

Senate gives nod to redistricting plan By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL AUSTIN — The Texas Sen ate, by an 18-13 vote largely along party lines, tentatively passed a redistricting bill Tues day night that keeps three West Texas congressional districts largely intact. Sen. Teel Bivins of Amarillo was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. The action by the Senate sets the stage for negotiations with the House, which has passed a far different plan — one that gives House Speaker Tom Craddick the district he's seeking for Midland. The Senate plan keeps Lubbock and Midland in Congres sional District...

'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...

West Texas district is thorn in Republican plan BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - What started as a frenzy between Democrats and Republicans could be determined by roughnecks and cotton farmers. West Texans in Midland and Lubbock are at the center of a Republican legislative stalemate over congressional redistricting. Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland said he's not negotiating over the design of West Texas' congressional districts. Republican Sen. Robert Duncan of Lubbock, chair of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee that is tackling redistricting, says he won't vote on a map his constituents don't like. "He's got to...

Young: The Three Redistricteers By John Young, Opinion page editor Recently on a Dallas radio talk show, Gov. Rick Perry acknowledged the turmoil over the three special sessions he has called to redraw congressional lines. Sure, it's been divisive and costly. But once it happens, he said, Texans will forget all about it. It's interesting that Perry has spent the last three months trying to bring about something he wants voters to forget. Look into his eyes. You are getting sleepy. You'd think a leader would want to do things that people would remember as good for the commonwealth. But...

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...

Ambitions are fueling this fight Thursday, August 21, 2003 Folks wonder why Gov. Rick Perry, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, are risking political capital on congressional redistricting. Perhaps Republican politics. When Perry switched to the GOP in 1989, his mentor, then-U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, a party-switcher himself, said a former Democrat had to be more Republican than other Republicans. Perry listened. Yet speculation continues that either U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or another former Democrat, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, will challenge Perry in 2006. Dewhurst's presumed game plan is to win another term in 2006 and then run for governor...

Lawmakers go to courts Both sides file actions over redistricting feud AUSTIN (AP) — The heated battle between Democrats and Republicans over congressional redistricting moved to the courts Thursday with both sides in the Senate stalemate pressing their cases. Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, both Republicans, made a filing in the Texas Supreme Court asking that the boycotting Democratic senators be ordered back to work. The 11 Democrats, who are holed up in an Albuquerque, N.M., hotel, filed a lawsuit in Travis County District Court asking that state officials or their deputies be prohibited from arresting them...

Perry rips absent Demos Executive order clears $700 million for schools Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — Republican Gov. Rick Perry, again chastising Senate Democrats for fleeing to New Mexico amid a congressional redistricting battle, on Wednesday ordered that $700 million be paid to Texas schools this month. Perry issued an executive order preventing Foundation School Pro gram payments from being delayed until September, thus eliminating uncertainty for districts, he said. "It's a big chunk of change," Perry said. Lawmakers were to have addressed the payments — clarifying a discrepancy between two bills passed this spring — but 11 Democratic senators...

Locals take complaints to the top Click here to see the redistricting proposals By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Fearing diminished representation in West Texas, Lubbock banker W.R. Collier is among a group planning an Austin trip today to discourage state senators from drawing new congressional districts. "A number of people from Lubbock are going to meet with Sen. (Robert) Duncan ... and (Rep.) Tom Craddick in the House concerning this redistricting that we're all faced with," Collier said Sunday. "My interest is in leaving it as it is." Duncan, a Lubbock Republican, is chairman of the Senate Jurisprudence Com mittee charged...

Redistricting committee back in Austin Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) - After days of hearings on the road, Senate committee members taking testimony on plans to redraw congressional boundaries indicated Thursday they were planning to take some time before voting on a proposed new map. The Senate Jurisprudence Committee approved a resolution saying it would not vote on a map before at least noon Tuesday. Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, said he had planned to start putting a map together Thursday and would stand strong for a map with which he is comfortable. Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, said he wanted senators to...

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,...

For over one hundred and thirty years, Republicans were a minority in the Texas legislature. Now, Republicans hold all statewide offices and both U.S. Senate seats. Texas votes about sixty percent Republican. However, only fifteen of the thirty-two U.S. House members are Republican. The prospect of correcting this inequity is what sent the fifty-one Texas House members abandoning their Constitutional duties and escaping out of state to Oklahoma for a few days. By doing so, they prevented a vote on the redistricting bill and effectively killed it. What they did was disenfranchise Texas voters. If Texas votes sixty-percent Republican, that...

Lawmakers bitter after standoff 05/18/2003 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News WASHINGTON – Renegade Texas Democrats returned from their self-imposed exile in Oklahoma late last week. But in the halls of Congress, the redistricting showdown has left resentments that could undermine the state's clout. Veteran lawmakers say the Texas delegation – 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the House – has long been known for pulling together on issues vital to the state, from NASA to highway funding. For now, many members are barely on speaking terms. A monthly delegation breakfast that rotates among House offices drew...

Redistricting uproar leads to strategic retreat 05/18/2003 Speaker misjudges role This week House Speaker Craddick stated several times that he wasn't going to negotiate with the Democrats. Would someone inform him that it IS in fact his job to negotiate? It is a major part of his job to work both sides of the aisle, to assist in reaching consensus on issues. For him to say it isn't his job to negotiate is patently wrong. J. Martinez, Irving That old adage Re: "Democrats disappear – Angry over redistricting, state reps deny quorum," Tuesday news story. I must confess some surprise...

House Republicans still fighting for passage of dead legislation Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — It's not over yet for passage of Texas House legislation, despite the Democrats' walkout that killed hundreds of bills. Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick, a veteran of shrewd parliamentary moves himself in his 34 years as a lawmaker, isn't conceding death for all bills that supposedly perished at the Thursday night deadline for initial approval of House legislation. For some bills, a rebirth awaits. Fifty-one Democrats busted a House quorum and halted debate on congressional redistricting. That Republican-backed redistricting bill died Thursday, and Craddick said he...