Bill Ratliff Joins Effort to Block Redistricting Bill in Texas Senate

Laredo, TX , Morning Times ^ | 07-15-03 | Gott, Natalie, AP

[Theodore R.]

Ratliff joins effort to block redistricting bill

BY NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN - Republican Sen. Bill Ratliff said Monday he would join with 10 other senators in attempting to block a congressional redistricting bill from reaching the Senate floor.

Ratliff, former acting lieutenant governor, said he has told Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst of a statement signed by 10 other senators stating their "unalterable opposition" to any motion to bring up redistricting for debate.

"I have advised the lieutenant governor that I am adding my name to that statement," Ratliff said outside the Senate chamber.

Under longstanding Senate rules, two-thirds, or 21 senators must agree to bring a bill up for debate before it can be considered on the Senate floor. It takes 11 senators to block a bill from debate in the 31-member chamber.

A few minutes before Ratliff spoke, Dewhurst said it was possible that he would consider changing those rules.

With existing congressional boundaries, Democrats hold a 17-15 edge in the congressional delegation. Republicans, led by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land, say they want a majority in the delegation and cite GOP-leaning voting trends in the past few statewide elections.

Ratliff has been outspoken against the House redistricting plan that was approved last week and sent to the Senate. He has said he wants to protect his rural district in northeast Texas and that the House plan obliterates representation for that region. He noted that Texarkana would be represented by someone in east Dallas County.

"The maps produced so far have indicated a total lack of concern for the communities of interest in rural Texas," Ratliff said.

Earlier Dewhurst told reporters that Ratliff had warned him he had "serious concerns" about redistricting.

However, Dewhurst said that although he had heard about the letter signed by the opposition senators he had not seen it. He said he was meeting with Ratliff later in the day.

Dewhurst said if it becomes clear that there are not the 21 votes to bring the bill up for debate, he would "consider all of our options."

He indicated that could include changing the Senate rule.

Republican Gov. Rick Perry called the special session June 30, initially to address redistricting. He later expanded the agenda to include more than two dozen other items.

The redistricting map that the Republican-controlled House approved last week could give the GOP as many as 21 seats in the 32-member Texas congressional delegation. Several senators are working on alternative maps because both Democrats and Republicans have said they don't like the House version.

Ratliff said it would be a serious mistake for Dewhurst to change the Senate debate rules and he invoked the name of President Bush in saying the Senate needs to continue to work in a bipartisan manner.

07/15/03

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[Theodore R.]

Ratliff is the immediate predecessor to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. It would seem that Dewhurst, if there is to be a redistricting bill, will have to move to suspend the Senate rules. This will put him in direct clash with Ratliff. The two disagreed in 2001 as members of the Legislative Redistricting Board, which drew up the current legislative lines. Ratliff does seem more Democrat than Republican! Mt. Pleasant is a heavily Democrat town.

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[MEG33]

It would seem Ratliff is playing to his crowd.

[solo gringo]

IMHO RATliff has his panties in a wad.

[rhinohunter]

This will put him in direct clash with Ratliff.

Who gives a rat's @$$ about Ratliff?

The problem is that Dewhurst fears the clash he will have with the liberal Texas media if he suspends the 2/3 rule.

Dewhurst needs to butch up!!!!!!

[Theodore R.]

It seems to me that if the 2/3 rule is not scrapped, there will be NO redistricting.

That was indeed the conventional wisdom as late as mid-April, before Republicans hopes began to soar, only to be dashed in the hotel rooms of Ardmore.

[Theodore R.]

The problem is that Dewhurst fears the clash he will have with the liberal Texas media if he suspends the 2/3 rule.

Dewhurst needs to butch up!!!!!!

Yea, but what will Molly Ivins say? Molly won't be happy if the 2/3 rule is scrapped. Of course, it this was an issue dear to Molly, she wouldn't mind see the 2/3 rule go at all. That's the hypocrisy of the liberal media.