Posted on 09/24/2003 9:09:07 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Senate gives nod to redistricting plan By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
AUSTIN — The Texas Sen ate, by an 18-13 vote largely along party lines, tentatively passed a redistricting bill Tues day night that keeps three West Texas congressional districts largely intact.
Sen. Teel Bivins of Amarillo was the lone Republican to vote against the bill.
The action by the Senate sets the stage for negotiations with the House, which has passed a far different plan — one that gives House Speaker Tom Craddick the district he's seeking for Midland.
The Senate plan keeps Lubbock and Midland in Congres sional District 19. The Senate map also differs substantially from "the lightning bolt" map put forth by Gov. Rick Perry.
Argument, debate and bluster marked the first day of debate on redistricting before the full Senate.
Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, chairman of the committee that proposed the Senate plan, said he voted for the map be cause it preserves West Texas congressional seats and creates an oppor tunity for more Republicans in Congress. "It is a good, fair plan," Duncan said.
Final approval of the map is expected in the Senate today.
Duncan said he believes a compromise can be reached with the House before the end of the week.
Senate Democrats, who re cently returned from New Mex ico where they were staying to break a Senate quorum, continued to argue against the bill.
They believe the map disenfranchises minority and rural populations throughout the state. Several Democratic senators said that more than 1 million minorities will be disenfranchised.
The Democrats also pointed out that former state Attorney General John Cornyn and Perry, both Republicans, originally accepted the current congressional lines.
Perry did not call for a special session on redistricting in 2001 after lawmakers failed to draw new districts during a regular session. A panel of three judges drew the current lines.
The map passed Tuesday maintains West Texas districts anchored by Lubbock, Ama rillo and Abilene.
Duncan characterized Tuesday's debate over the divisive issue as charged yet level-headed.
"There has been a high level of discussion and de bate," he said. "It has been intellectual. There has been some emotion, but it is not inappropriate."
The Democrats offered several failed amendments.
One would have kept the current congressional lines and another would have limited work on redistricting to the session directly following the new census.
"Do you realize if we had done the job in the 77th Legislature, we wouldn't be here today," said Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville.
Democrats also expressed concern over setting precedent by removing the Senate's traditional two-thirds rule. The rule states that two-thirds of the Senate must agree to take up an issue before it is debated on the floor.
Facing gridlock over redistricting, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst suspended that rule.
"It is a dangerous step away from Senate tradition," said Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin. "We sacrificed tradition for the Washington partisanship we often decry."
The state has spent more than $5 million on redistricting — money that could have been used for teachers and children, Barrientos said. More money will be spent defending the maps in courts, he said.
"We have sacrificed money, integrity and tradition for (U.S. House Majority Leader Tom) Delay and (presidential adviser Karl) Rove," Barrientos said.
Democratic senators spent much of the debate by arguing precedent and procedure.
"I am not doing anything to facilitate this process for my Republican colleagues," said Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas. "The only thing I have left to fight redistricting is parliamentary procedure — and I will do that."
The map passed by the Senate has 11 rural-influenced districts, which is more than the current map, said Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, author of the Senate map. Minority districts are maintained, Staples said.
"The map is not discriminatory," he said. "Minority voters are not worse off than they were before the changes."
Hispanics are the fastest-growing population in the state, but no minority districts were created in the Senate map, Lucio said.
Staples and Duncan said they believe the Senate map will pass legal tests.
DeLay, Perry and other Republicans are trying to use redistricting to corral votes because "they are unwilling and unable to win them at the ballot box," Lucio said.
skitchen@lubbockonline.com 766-8753
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