Lulac Frowns at Texas Redistricting

San Antonio Express News ^ | November 22, 2003

[wildbill]

LULAC frowns at Texas remap

By Gary Martin Express-News Washington Bureau

Web Posted : 11/22/2003 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON — A Hispanic civil rights group told the Justice Department on Friday that a newly adopted redistricting plan in Texas would dilute minority strength at the ballot box and violate the voting rights of Hispanics. The League of United Latin American Citizens said the plan decreases the number of minority-majority congressional districts from 12 to nine.

LULAC said minorities have lost their majority status in three congressional districts — in Dallas, Austin and the San Antonio-based 23rd which sweeps from Laredo to El Paso.

"Our position is that we are clearly worse off because we lost three congressional districts," said Rolando Rios of San Antonio, one of four LULAC attorneys who participated in the Justice Department hearing.

LULAC is asking the Justice Department to find the Texas redistricting plan violates the Voting Rights Act.

Minority rights groups have filed lawsuits challenging the plan, adopted by the Legislature this year and signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry.

The Republican-drawn plan would increase the number of likely GOP congressional seats, but would divide Hispanic populations, LULAC and other minority rights groups say.

The Texas attorney general's office said it expects the redistricting plan to be upheld by a federal three-judge panel, which is to hear arguments Dec. 11.

Democrats in East Texas filed a lawsuit challenging the redistricting plan, saying the newly drawn lines would disenfranchise African-American voters.

The American GI Forum and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund also have challenged the GOP map, which claims to create new minority districts.

In the 23rd congressional district, the percentage of registered voters with Hispanic surnames would decrease from 56 percent to 44 percent, Rios said.

Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, narrowly won re-election in 2000 to the 23rd congressional seat, defeating Democrat Henry Cuellar by about 6,500 votes.

The redrawn district includes more conservative voters in Kerr and Bandera counties.

[wildbill]

The GOP claimed this plan would provide additional minority seats. Looks like a court challenge for sure.

[HiJinx]

   

LULAC claims..."minorities have lost their majority status."

Huh? Could you run that by me in real English, please?

[Klickitat]

Yeah that does seem a contradictory statement.

[Dog Gone]

The GOP claimed this plan would provide additional minority seats.

It will.

[SCalGal]

A Hispanic civil rights group told the Justice Department on Friday that a newly adopted redistricting plan in Texas would dilute minority strength at the ballot box and violate the voting rights of Hispanics.

Sounds like they want the "right" to have their minority vote override that of the majority.

[dennisw]

If they don't like it ... screw 'em. Minority does not dictate to the majority. This is the case even if you are Mexican or Black or just a pissed off 'cRAT.

[FITZ]

"Our position is that we are clearly worse off because we lost three congressional districts," said Rolando Rios of San Antonio

They really do see this as a fight over the USA --- they believe they own certain districts. Balkinization is real.

[Dog Gone]

It means that in some districts, hispanics are no longer the largest ethnic group.

Specifically, they're complaining about Martin Frost's district, and Henry Bonilla's.

In Frost's case, they're complaining that they won't be able to elect the white guy. Go figure.

[Rome2000]

LULAC=COMMUNISTS

[FITZ]

If they don't like it, they could go back to Mexico where they are the clear "majority". They don't have to put up with Americans at all there.

[Arpege92]

Well said!

[DumpsterDiver]

LULAC frowns [and Atlas Shrugged]

Hey, LULAC -- just turn that frown :( upside down and then you'll be all smiles :) :) :) again.

[DLfromthedesert]

I thought the Constitution was about "INDIVIDUAL" liberty. What difference does it make how many "LatEEEEnos live in a given area, especially when at least one quarter of them are there illegally and have nor right to vote in the first place?

[MeekOneGOP]

[SandRat]

That means they are being the house toaddies for the RATs. They have to have the RIGHT Kind of Districts to put the RIGHT kind CongressRATS in Washington and the State Legislature. (Note: Read Right as DemoRAT Leftist, Voz La Raza SCUM)

[unixfox]

Lulac never was that smart anyway. They should be caled LoonieLac.

[Kuksool]

The Voting Rights Act was orginially passed to stop the KKK from chasing black voters from the polls on election day. Since then, the Act was intrepreted to include minority-majority voting districts. Now the Voting Rights Act is being intrepreted to mean RATS have the right to be in the majority.

[FreedomCalls]

The GOP claimed this plan would provide additional minority seats. Looks like a court challenge for sure.

There's no way to tell until after an election.

[usadave]

Lulac Frowns at Texas Redistricting

It makes me happy whenever LULAC is unhappy.