Posted on 10/30/2003 5:43:13 AM PST by Arrowhead1952
Representatives claim newly drawn congressional districts violate the law
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, October 30, 2003
WASHINGTON -- Texas Democrats, meeting Wednesday with Justice Department lawyers, declared that the state's newly drawn congressional districts should be tossed out because they reduce minority voting strength.
The nine Democrats, from districts with heavy concentrations of African American and Hispanic voters, sought to refute Republican claims that the GOP-drawn map creates 11 minority-controlled districts, unchanged from the previous map. Looking at the same numbers, Democrats see 10 districts where minority voters can determine election results, a decline that would violate the Voting Rights Act.
"They made a situation worse," said U.S. Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, a participant in Wednesday's meeting. "They're going backwards despite claims that they added or created a new Hispanic district. That proves not to be the case when you look at it more carefully."
U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, who represents a strongly African American and Hispanic district in Dallas, was unable to attend because of a scheduling conflict.
Instead, she'll join this morning's meeting, when Justice Department officials will receive six other Texas representatives from districts where minorities can influence elections, including U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and Chet Edwards, D-Waco.
Doggett said he will discuss the new map's impact on many of Travis County's minority voters, who were placed in districts that extend to the Mexican border or Houston.
"This plan was directed at dividing our community and destroying the very success and opportunities that minorities have to prevail within our community and contribute to it," Doggett said.
Democratic state officials and minority group representatives will make similar pleas to the agency this afternoon.
Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, Texas must seek Department of Justice approval, known as preclearance, before changing any voting procedure. The agency must certify that the change does not leave minority voters worse off.
Republicans criticized the congressional meetings as an attempt to unduly exert influence on the agency.
"It would be inappropriate if they are attempting to intimidate, strong-arm or lobby Justice Department people to protect their own seats," said Jonathan Grella, spokesman for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land. "And they say they are doing this in the name of minority representation, but they are doing it in the name of saving their own political hides. Clearly, the Republican plan boosts minority participation, and any assertion to the contrary is dishonest."
Gonzalez noted that the Justice Department review includes taking public comment.
"Anybody and everybody can get in there and put in their two cents worth, and I'm sure that they will," he said. "It is our obligation and responsibility to . . . explain the impact on the minority districts."
Texas Secretary of State Geoffrey Connor submitted the map and supporting documents to the Justice Department on Oct. 20, and the agency has 60 days to respond.
Doggett said he expects to appeal to the professionalism of the agency's staff.
"Despite the heavily politicized nature of the Justice Department under John Ashcroft, I believe that there are some career civil servants who will want to do justice on this map, and it cries out for rejection under the Voting Rights Act," he said.
A Justice Department spokesman did not return a call seeking comment.
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It's good for the white Dems, because these are sure Dem votes. And they don't have to trade anything for them.
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