Republicans make early-morning agreement on (TX) redistrict map

[Freddie Stubbs]

State Republican leaders finalized a deal on congressional redistricting at 2:30 a.m. today.

The map, which will be debated by the Legislature on Friday, would allow Republicans to win as many as six more seats in Congress. Democrats now hold a 17-to-15 advantage under the current map.

In Central Texas, Travis County would be split into three congressional districts, running to Houston, San Antonio and the Lower Rio Grade Valley.

Bastrop County is split between the Austin-to-Houston district and the district that runs to the Mexico border. Hays is shared by a San Antonio district and a district running to the Mexico border. Caldwell County is included in the Austin-to-Mexico district. Williamson County is in one district with Bell County.

more: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared/texas/legislature/1003/1010redistrict_upd.html

[CO Liberal]

1. Sounds Like a Classic Case of Gerrymandering

It will be very easy for a federal court to throw this one out.

[Democrats unite]

2. I wished I shared you optimism.

Not all Federal courts are like the 9th circuit.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Theyhave NEVER overturned a redistricting map simply due to gerrymandering

They have becasue of districts that dillute the voting strengths of ethnic minorities and one that have had unequal populations.

[ixion]

4. this is absolutely ludicrous...

An Austin district, that runs to the Mexican border? :wtf:

[RobertSeattle]

6. Do you have a link to the map?

Would love to see it.

On Edit:
Found this with a photo of the map?
http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=86006&SecID=2

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. They haven't released it yet.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. Here it is

http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/research/redist/pdf/map_plan01374c.pdf

[Racenut20]

5. Don't count on the Courts

There is a Florida district that runs from St. Pete south through 3 counties that isolates the black voters into one district to make two "safe white" districts.