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Congressional redistricting remains a thorny, divisive issue for the Texas House and Senate By Ty Meighan and Monica Wolfson Scripps Howard Austin Bureau AUSTIN - The fighting over congressional redistricting couldn't wait for the start Monday of the Texas Legislature's first special session in more than a decade. Even before lawmakers convened, the partisan rancor over congressional redistricting was evident at the Capitol, where about 30 Democratic House members gathered outside to denounce the special session. Redistricting is their only task so far. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Gov. Rick Perry will add more issues to the 30-day special session agenda today. But in the meantime, lawmakers face an issue that is historically divisive - and that brought much bitterness to the recently concluded regular session. "The special session we are about to enter is unnecessary, unprecedented and immoral," said state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine and chairman of the House Mexican American Legislative Caucus. "The current plan is legal and fair to both parties." Democrats say the sentiment at recent hearings was that congressional redistricting does not justify a special session, which will cost an estimated $1.7 million. "It's a purely partisan issue," state Rep. Jaime Capelo, D-Corpus Christi, said shortly after House Speaker Tom Craddick convened lawmakers for the special session. "It's a sad day in Texas when state dollars are being spent for purely partisan purposes." Republicans say Democratic lawmakers were bent on disrupting the hearings by not showing up or urging supporters to protest. Push from DeLay U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, a Republican from Sugar Land and House majority leader in the nation's capital, has been driving the effort to redraw the districts in Texas. DeLay wants the Legislature to change the districts to reflect the Republican voting trend in the state. Republicans hold all statewide offices but Democrats hold a 17-15 edge in the state's congressional delegation. State lawmakers are supposed to redraw districts every 10 years based on U.S. Census population figures. But lawmakers in 2001 couldn't agree to a plan and left it up to a panel of federal judges. Perry and other Republicans say the Legislature, not federal judges, should draw the districts. State Rep. Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi, said he'll probably spend most of the special session focusing on insurance issues. "I'm going to be over at the Texas Department of Insurance to make sure rates are rolled back," Seaman said, referring to legislation passed last month that gives the insurance commissioner power to roll back homeowner's insurance rates deemed excessive. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, didn't attend the first day of the special session. Hinojosa, who represents Corpus Christi, arrived in Austin in the afternoon after attending to family business, a spokeswoman said. Looking to the Senate During the regular session, which ended June 2, Democratic House members killed the congressional redistricting plan by fleeing the state to Ardmore, Okla. Without the 51 House members, the House shut down because there weren't enough lawmakers to conduct official business. State Rep. Paul Moreno, D-El Paso, jokingly referred to the Democrats' Ardmore getaway several times Monday. "All aboard to Ardmore, Okla.," Moreno said shortly after the morning prayer. Moreno was among those who went to Ardmore during the regular session. But Democrats are not expected to use that tactic during the special session. They are hoping to block the bill in the Senate because of a rule that requires two-thirds of the state's 31 senators to agree to consider an issue. That means 11 of the state's 12 Democratic senators could kill the redistricting bill. "We believe the senators will not sell out the minority voting rights of Texans," said state Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco and chairman of the Democratic Caucus. But Dewhurst, who oversees the Senate, said he expects senators to reach a consensus - if the House passes a fair redistricting bill. House debates next week "We have yet to see a map from the House," Dewhurst said after Monday's Senate session. "We want to see a map in the Senate that's fair." The House redistricting committee is expected to hear testimony on a proposed redistricting bill this week and the full House will debate the legislation next week. State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston and dean of the Texas Senate, said it's too early to determine if the Senate has enough votes to debate a redistricting bill. "I'd like to see us not take up redistricting," he said. "It's a horrible waste of money. Members need to be back in their districts with their families at their regular jobs." Both House and Senate members met for a short time and then adjourned Monday. While the House adjourned until Thursday, the Senate will meet again today, at 11 a.m. Dewhurst said the governor is expected to expand the special session to include government reorganization and other issues. Leftover business Also, House Speaker Tom Craddick warned House members that committees would hold hearings this week to address filed bills that don't relate to redistricting. Lawmakers have filed more than 35 bills as of late Monday, most concerning issues the Legislature failed to address during the regular session. Topics range from the death penalty and cigarette taxes to limiting the guaranteed admission of the top 10 percent of graduating Texas high school seniors into state colleges and universities, and various health and human services measures. Legislators cannot consider other issues, however, unless Perry expands the special session call. "It looks like we're fixin' to take up a number of topics," Whitmire said. Contact Ty Meighan at 512-334-6640 or meighant@scripps.com and Monica Wolfson at 512-334-6642 or wolfsonm@scripps.com Copyright 2003, Caller.com. All Rights Reserved. |
