Democrat wants hearing on redistricting impact on civil rights

Fort Worth Star Telegram | Sept 3, 2003

[hocndoc]

Posted on Wed, Sep. 03, 2003 Democrat wants hearing on redistricting impact on civil rights Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A high-ranking Democrat and his colleagues have asked the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on the potential civil rights implications of redistricting legislation Republicans are pushing in Texas.

Rep. John Conyers, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, initiated the letter that was signed by eight other Democratic members of the committee and sent Wednesday afternoon to Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

Democrats said the Republican congressional redistricting efforts in Texas make matters worse for minority communities that already are "woefully underrepresented." They said in the letter that the Republican legislation would reduce minority opportunity districts, move minority voters into safe Republican districts and diminish minority voters' ability to influence elections affecting their own communities.

"Given the unorthodox manner in which the redistricting plans are proceeding, this in and of itself would warrant committee hearings," the letter states.

A spokesman for Sensenbrenner could not be immediately reached late Wednesday.

Republicans in Texas have been trying to redraw the state's congressional map to increase Republican members. The efforts have led to two special sessions of the Texas Legislature to pass a redistricting measure and triggered separate boycotts of the Legislature by Democratic state House and Senate members.

No measure has passed thus far because of walkouts in the regular or special sessions.. Ten Democratic senators remained in Albuquerque, N.M., on Wednesday as Republican leaders considered whether to call another special session to try to pass a new redistricting map.

[hocndoc]

Please don't make me watch Conyers in the Judiciary Committee.

We in Texas realize that the districts that the Dems worry about are protect in perpetuity. The Federal Courts in 1991 set three districts, one in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas in order to protect the minority neighborhoods. These are now set forever,not by elected officials, but by the activist courts.

What I'd like to see uncovered in the Judiciary Committee is the connection between the Communist Party, moveon.org and what their real interest in the Democratic Party is.

[hocndoc]

ping!

The racist federal Democrats are at it.

[Torie]

I am sure Henry Hyde will agree to hold a hearing on the evils of Texas Pubbies and their redistricting machinations that act to hate minorites (even though minority districts will be enhanced rather than diminished, even as Anglo liberals (well that is a bit of stretch, let's say just Anglo Dems) are rendered close to extinct in the Texas congressional delegation) immediately. "Immediately" meaning after Hyde decides that Roe v. Wade was a wise decision.

[CyberAnt]

Aren't the dems really worried about some districts no longer being safe seats for them ..??

[goldstategop]

It is NONE of John Conyers' business to tell the people of Texas who they can send to Congress. After all, its the same argument he made to send Ward Connerly packing from Michigan. If it goose for Conyers, it ought to be a gander for Texas Republicans.

[Consort]

Rep. John Conyers is an excellent reason to vote straight Republican until further notice.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Will someone please tell leftists that democracy is about MAJORITY rule.

If it becomes about minority rule, then lets dump it.

[Dog Gone]

The funny thing is that, under the new Republican map, MORE minorities would be elected to the US Congress. That's a fact, and it's not one the Rats are willing to talk about.

Of course, the number of white Democrats elected to Congress from Texas would drop to zero.

In any event, the US Congress has no business interfering in a state's decision to redistrict. That is explicitly the state's business, as provided in the US Constitution.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the post and ping.

John Conyers, Jr.

[hocndoc]

I begged not to see him!

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! Oopth ...

[jimt]

Aren't the dems really worried about some districts no longer being safe seats for them ..??

You got it in one.

The 'rats are trying to protect WHITE 'rats, not black or hispanic ones. There are gerrymandered 'rat districts already set up to produce minority representation like Queen Sheila. The republican plan would actually create MORE minority representatives. But powerful white 'rats would lose, and the overall 'rat / pubbie split in congress would go 10 seats pubbie.

Conyers is simply playing the tired ol' race card.

[Texan5]

So would I! Our Governor needs to tell Conyers to sod off and don't mess with Texas. He is most unwelcome here.

[hocndoc]

Conyers used to be a member of the Democratic Socialist of America Party. I'd bet he still is,since virtually all of the Democrat House Representatives were on the membership list a few years ago (they don't publish that list on line, anymore.) That organization supports Democratic presidential candidates against the "Bush regime" and is proud of Paul and Sheila Wellstone's work to change the Dems from the inside. They also support "Not in our name" and other anti-war protests.
http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html


Conyers and the Fleas are accepting money and support from moveon.org, which is promoted by the Communist Party of the USA. No one but the Fleas are "from here."

And, if we can get the Fleas to stay away a while longer, they won't be, either.