Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, Unveils Final TX Redistricting Map

Laredo, TX, Morning Times | 07-04-03 | Castro, April, AP

[Theodore R.]

King unveils final redistricting proposal

BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN - Republican Rep. Phil King unveiled what he says will likely be his final congressional redistricting proposal Thursday, a day after he temporarily withdrew another map to make some changes in the Dallas and Houston areas.

King, of Weatherford, said those changes were necessary to protect minority interests under the federal Voting Rights Act, but that essentially the map is the same one he made public earlier this week. One change restores District 24 in the Dallas area, where Democrat Martin Frost is the incumbent congressman.

"There's nothing else I intend to change," King said Thursday, shortly after he finished the latest map. "I've listened to all the testimony and made all the changes I intend to make. I think this is the map we ought to get out."

The GOP, led by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, is trying to change the 17-15 advantage Democrats now hold in the Texas congressional delegation. King said his map, widely considered the preferred Republican map, would likely lead to the election of 19 Republicans.

King said there was no need to hold more public hearings around the state on his proposed map.

"Trust me, the House members are going to vote their district and they know what their constituents want," he said.

Democrats allege that Republicans are trying to disenfranchise minority and rural voters.

"They're targeting minorities, and they kill East Texas too," said Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo. He said the GOP is trying to create "political ghettos" where blacks and Hispanics won't have a voice in their district.

Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, said that splitting up communities of interest will dilute their voting power.

"We're effectively creating a system of apartheid in Texas," McClendon said.

Raymond, King and McClendon are members of the House Redistricting Committee.

"My personal objective is to draw a map that would elect four, five or six additional Republicans to reflect Texans' voting patterns and so the Republican delegation would have more influence in Washington," King said.

King said he also hopes that by electing more Republicans to Congress, President Bush will more easily be able to accomplish his agenda.

Raymond predicted that Republicans will propose yet another plan before debate is finished. King, however, said the map he proposed on Thursday will likely be his final proposal.

Redistricting is expected to be considered by the full House on Monday, a week after the special session began, if lawmakers stick to the schedule the GOP leadership has set up.

07/04/03

[Theodore R.]

"We're effectively creating a system of apartheid in Texas," Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, said.

So apartheid is coming to TX; a Democrat will say anything or do anything to stay entrenched in power. Republicans should be as committed to their interests!

[End Times Sentinel]

 

I'm not quite sure how to post something from a pdf, but here's a link to the new redistircting map with details of urban areas.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[Theodore R.]

Owl Eagle, this is the state House map, not the proposed congressional remap.