Senate tentatively OKs remap

[Equinox]

Senate tentatively OKs remap
GOP lauds 'reasonable' bill as Democrats prepare for lawsuits


03:08 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 24, 2003

By ROBERT T. GARRETT and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – After 10 hours of debate, the Senate late Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a long-fought redistricting bill, a measure designed to bolster Republican strength in Congress.

"I understand my friends and colleagues may want to take this to the courts. Our job is to pass a respectful, careful, reasonable bill. And that's what we did today," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, predicting healing among lawmakers after a bruising fight.

Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, had less kind words for the process.

"This is a coup d'etat without elections and without bloodshed," he said, characterizing the vote as an element in a national GOP plan to gain a stranglehold on Congress. "What Republicans on this floor don't see is what Republicans in D.C. are doing nationwide."


Redistricting Texas
Current Texas Congressional districts

House map, adopted 9/17

Senate map, proposed 9/19

The map given the initial approval by the Senate could give the GOP as many as six additional U.S. House seats after next year's elections. Under a map drawn by three federal judges in 2001, Democrats hold 17 of the state's 32 congressional seats.
The vote was 18-13 along party lines, with the exception of Sen. Teel Bivins, R-Amarillo, who favors a House version of the map that treats his region differently.

After a final Senate vote expected Wednesday, the GOP-backed plan will go to a conference committee to tackle significant differences between House and Senate versions – notably in West Texas.

Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, expressed hope for a compromise on the so-far unsolvable West Texas jigsaw.

"I'm the eternal optimist," said Mr. Duncan, who thinks an agreement can be worked out with with House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland.

http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/092403dntexredist.a20ce.html

[dusty64]

1. What an illegal crock

of shit, ""respectful, careful, reasonable bill."". What are the chances this reredistricting will be deemed unconstitutional? If not, shouldn't Democrats start doing the same thing in order to neutralize this fascist tactic?

[Equinox]

2. I don't know...the dems don't seem to be doing any

of the dirty tricks? Correct me if I'm wrong.

respectful, careful, reasonable bill

What a hoot and a hollar.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Probably nothing illegal or unconstitutional about it

It appears that they are not decreasing the number of districts in which minorities are the majority.

If this goes through, there is talk that Democrats may do the same thing in New Mexico, where they control both houses of the legislature and the governorship.

[dusty64]

4. They ought to reredistrict

in California as well and any other state they can do it. I'll bet if the Democrats start acting like we are in a state of war (which we are) this shit will end quickly. If our side starts a few recalls of rethug governors and decide to redo redistricting maps the extreme right will back off their fascist tactics in a hurry. Of course, if we continue to roll over ..............................

[goobergunch]

5. We can't do it in California

we need a 2/3rds vote there. :evilfrown: