Posted on 05/06/2003 6:15:28 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Raymond claims discrimination in House redistricting hearings
Times staff reports
State Rep. Richard Raymond is accusing Texas House Redistricting Committee Chairman Joe Crabb (R-Houston) of discriminating against Hispanics during his "blatantly partisan hearings on congressional redistricting."
Raymond released a written statement Monday claiming he is furious at the way he personally has been treated by Crabb during hearings over the past four days. He is also unhappy about how Hispanic communities of interest have been disregarded and how, he said, the latest congressional map being considered by the redistricting committee violates the Voting Rights Act by weakening minority voting strength in Texas.
"I'm outraged at the way Crabb has railroaded this whole process and won the bidding for U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay," said Raymond, a member of the redistricting committee.
"Crabb has been blatantly discriminating against me as a Hispanic and against the interest of my constituents," he added.
Raymond pointed to the sharp exchanges between himself and Crabb at last Friday's proceedings, when Raymond questioned why committee hearings were not posted in Spanish.
Raymond has also suggested holding hearings in Laredo and other areas of South Texas.
According to Raymond's press release, Crabb rejected the idea because of a language barrier.
"Mr. Raymond, there are only two people I know of on the committee who speak Spanish. The rest of us would have a very difficult time if we were out in an area other than Austin or other English-speaking areas to be able to have committee hearings or to be able to converse with people that did not speak English," Crabb allegedly replied.
"In effect, the Republicans are saying to us is that if you speak Spanish, we can't hear you. They are refusing to hold public hearings throughout Texas, which is unprecedented," said Raymond.
Throughout the proceedings, Crabb has repeatedly prevented Raymond from asking questions and in an unprecedented move, even stopped the Laredo Democrat from asking for a parliamentary inquiry, Raymond said.
The latest congressional plan CSHB 3398 by Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, was laid out just an hour before the close of Monday's proceedings. Under the plan, Webb County would be split in two, with representation likely coming from Austin and San Antonio.
Raymond said the plan was a "vicious assault on Texas communities of interest and minority voting strength in Texas" with cities and counties split without reason, rural areas submerged into suburban districts and minority voters losing influence by being submerged into safe, suburban Republican districts or packed into already existing minority districts.
"Contrary to Republican claims, this plan does not create an additional Hispanic opportunity district, while at the same time splitting Hispanic communities across the state.
On Sunday, Raymond sent a hard-hitting memorandum to every member of the House Redistricting Committee, listing 18 complaints over the lack of due process being followed by Crabb and the Republican majority on the committee.
Raymond said CSHB 3398 should be tabled and that current congressional lines be left unchanged.
05/06/03
Once the measure clears the House, it faces expected death in the more "moderate" TX Senate.
Like gay used to mean happy.
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