Posted on 09/10/2003 6:20:53 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Redistricting fight continues Gov. Perry calls for third special session
BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer
After more than six weeks of personal financial and family sacrifice to fight the Republican leadership on congressional redistricting, the "Texas 11 Minus One" are coming home Wednesday.
Laredo will be their first stop in the Lone Star State.
Eight of the 10 Democratic state senators are expected to fly in from Albuquerque, N.M. Wednesday.
They will land at 4:30 p.m. at Labata FBO, a private hangar at the Laredo International Airport, and will be joined later by senators Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville and Frank Madla of San Antonio.
Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Perry announced Tuesday a third special session that will begin Monday. Perry's unprecedented move marks the state's fourth attempt to pass a controversial Republican-designed map through the Legislature this year.
A new redistricting map would increase the number of Republican-held seats in the U.S. Congress, where they hold a thin majority.
In his call for a third special session, Perry also wants the Legislature to change the dates for primary elections for congressional races only.
This could cost the state an additional $10.5 million and allow Republicans to extend the pre-clearance approval time from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Austin Democratic insider Jeff Crosby.
"Changing the date for our state's primary is something we would expect from a banana republic," state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) said from Albuquerque. "When the voters see the tab for this, I hope they remember in the next election."
As for the third special session, it is expected to cost another $1.7 million.
On Thursday, all 10 Democratic state senators are expected to attend a three-panel hearing in Laredo federal court presided by Chief U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen and Justices Patrick Higgenbotham and Lee Rosenthal.
The latter two are Republican appointees, and Higgenbotham was on the three-judge panel that drew the current map in 2001.
The three justices were chosen by (the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the merits of a federal lawsuit filed against Gov. Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act and Civil Rights Act.
From Albuquerque, several state senators shared their thoughts on coming home and on Perry's call for a third session. They also delivered scathing remarks against their colleague, state Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston).
As the longest serving member of the Texas Senate, Whitmire carries the title dean of the Texas Senate.
He secretly left his colleagues Sept. 2 and returned to Houston, ending the long holdout by the Texas 11. Only one of the Texas 11 was needed for the Republicans to establish a quorum in the Senate and proceed with their plans for a new map.
Furthermore, Whitmire was also spotted having dinner with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst Friday night in Austin at a restaurant called Eddie V's.
"After the betrayal of John Whitmire, the only thing we can do is go on the (Senate) Floor through privileged speeches and filibusters and then vote on the map," state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos (D-Austin) said from Albuquerque.
"We spent over a month of our lives, all of us together, being away from our families, from our work and under stress. What Whitmire's actions said to me is that he didn't give a damn," Barrientos said angrily.
Shapleigh added, "I feel very sorry for John (Whitmire). My mother used to say, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all. I'd best leave it at that."
State senator Judith Zaffirini, of Laredo, also had angry words for Whitmire.
"He continues to say we are his best friends, but everybody here does not feel that way. There is no way we could trust him again," Zaffirini said, who suffered a broken shoulder from a fall Monday.
"He unilaterally changed our agenda and priorities. We had a winning strategy that would have allowed us to beat Perry, Dewhurst and Karl Rove. We believe that if Whitmire had not returned, Perry would not have called a third special session because his negatives (in the polls) are much higher than his positives," Zaffirini said.
Her colleague, state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, of McAllen, added, "Sen. Whitmire mishandled the situation and gave out too much details. He did what he thought was right, but he represents a constituency that is majority-minority. They will hold him accountable come election time."
During a lengthy interview with the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle, Whitmire said he returned partially because he suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, and because he wants to restore civility to the Texas Senate and preserve its traditions, such as the two-thirds rule.
Zaffirini and others, however, believe Whitmire made his move because of pressure from his Houston law firm, which is strongly Republican and has direct ties to the Bush Administration.
"Some of us also believe he cut a deal for himself," Zaffirini added. "No matter. We will simply have to change our strategy and fight hard. We will continue to stand for minority rights, rural residents and our constitutional rights."
Some are predicting the next episode of the bitter redistricting fight will play itself out within the Republican Party.
Crosby, the Austin-based Democratic consultant, said the fight will be centered on Lubbock and Midland in West Texas.
"The Speaker (of the Texas House of Representatives) wants a congressional district centered in Midland, where he is from," Crosby said, referring to Speaker of the House Tom Craddick (R-Midland).
"This would be a break from the congressional district that is centered in Lubbock. Sen. Duncan is chairman of the committee where the redistricting bill would have to come out of. That means Craddick is going to face a serious challenge," Crosby said.
Sen. Robert Duncan is a Republican state Senator from Lubbock.
Zaffirini commented further.
"At this point, the Republicans have to get themselves together. They don't even have 16 votes (in the Texas Senate) for a plan at this time," she said. "I also believe that they cannot pass a plan that would stand up to pre-clearance. We may not win one day, but we will win another."
(Staff writer Tricia Cortez can be reached at 728-2568 or tricia@lmtonline.com.)
09/10/03
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Better read it again.
I think the problem is they are not too bright, thus they repeat the same stock answers over and over.
I think you are right...we do not seem to be dealing with anyone scoring 1600 on the SAT here. Additionally, I think that the DNC has been trying to morph this into a national issue and we are hearing the DNC talking points.
It's not working, but let them waste their time :-).
On a related note, can someone tell me where the lawsuit filed against Whitmire over his run for the border stands? Is it now moot?
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