Expert Calls Split in Bonilla's House District Map Racial Discrimination

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 12-17-03 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Expert calls split in Bonilla's district map racial discrimination

AUSTIN (AP) — Hispanics were cut from U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla's district with "racially discriminatory in tent" to ensure re-election of the Republican who has not fared well with Latino voters, an expert testified Tuesday during the federal redistricting trial.

The map of new congressional districts approved by the Legislature this year re designed District 23 in South Texas and others in an at tempt to put more Repub licans in Congress.

Democrats and minority groups are challenging the new map in court.

Bonilla has held the District 23 seat for 11 years but does not typically garner a high percentage of the His pan ic vote, said J. Morgan Kousser, a professor of history and social science at the California Institute of Technology.

"Congressman Henry Bonilla has faced increasing challenges in his district, which is increasingly Hispanic," he said. "Congressman Bonilla was in trouble."

Kousser called the split of mostly Hispanic Laredo a "smoking gun," of racial intent.

"They adopted a racial means to their partisan ends," Kousser said.

In the proposed map, Dis trict 23 stretches from Webb County northward, capturing part of the Hill Country and into far West Texas along the Mexican border.

During cross-examination, An dy Taylor, an attorney representing the state, questioned Kousser about the 1991 round of redistricting by Democrats, who had the majority in the Legislature at the time.

Taylor has argued that the main point of the GOP map approved this year was to in crease the number of Texas Republicans in Congress, with out considering race as a predominant factor.

He has said race was considered only in an effort to bring the map into compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, which prohibits dilution of minority voting strength.

Plaintiffs argue that the dilution of minority voting power in several districts around the state violates the Voting Rights Act, rendering the new map illegal.

Oppo nents also are claiming constitutional violations.

Democrats and some min orities want the state to maintain existing districts, which have given Democrats a 17-15 advantage in the congressional delegation.

Republicans contend they should have more members of their party in Congress be cause most Texans vote Re publican.

The GOP holds all the statewide elected offices and controls the Legislature.

The redistricting plan was passed in an October special session after partisan fighting all year and two out-of-state boycotts by Democrats.

Various groups of Democrats, the American GI Forum, some chapters of the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Texas NAACP are challenging the plan.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Various groups of Democrats, the American GI Forum, some chapters of the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Texas NAACP are challenging the plan.

Anything these groups oppose, I support.

[boris]

"racially discriminatory in tent"

The Dems have a "Big Tent" too?

[Arrowhead1952]

Here is a letter to the editor as it appeared in the Austin American Statesman today. How fitting for this thread.

Districts by committee

I was shocked to read that the American-Statesman has discovered partisanship and gerrymandering in the redistricting process (Dec. 12 editorial)! Not only that, but a Texan who holds a national elected office took part in this effort and it will affect other Texans who hold similar offices. The result is that some voters might not be able to vote for the same Democratic office holder they previously voted for; some districts will be long and convoluted; and Austin might not have a single congressman to represent it in Congress. Oh my.

In 1991, if the Statesman had cared to be indignant then, it would have written that Democratic Congressman Martin Frost was the local bogeyman in charge of gerrymandering. Democratic screams now are largely due to their own gerrymandering being overturned.

Let's be honest. Both parties gerrymander, and shameless incumbent protection is their first priority. It's time to let redistricting be done by a non-political group. This is too important to continue being handled, much less controlled, by politicians.

Austin

[The UnVeiled Lady]

I would vote for Bonilla ANYTIME!

[Redbob]

When did "Hispanics" become a race?

They're either European, same as me, or Indian, like Tonto, or some unfortunate mix of the two.

[Theodore R.]

In the 1970 census, "Hispanic" was added as a "third race." Or, it may have been 1980 census. I think it was 1970. The word "Hispanic" was largely unknown until the 1970s. Some still prefer "Latino."