Step up, guys. Set a fire under the GOP folks doin the infighting ! ...
Rick Perry and David Dewhurst
Posted on 10/01/2003 5:59:09 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Stalemate in redistricting dispute
BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer
AUSTIN (AP) - House and Senate Republicans remained at odds on congressional redistricting Tuesday and one of the lead negotiators said he hopes a fourth special session won't be necessary for both chambers to agree on a new map.
It appeared Tuesday that Gov. Rick Perry's preferred Wednesday deadline would be missed.
"Obviously we want to get it done before the end of session so the governor doesn't have to call a fourth one," said Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, the House point man for negotiations. "But, I've done it three times now, I guess I can do it again."
Democrats successfully fought the measure during the regular session and the first two special sessions. The third special session has been marred by a stalemate between Republicans over the design of West Texas districts. Through Tuesday, the Texas Legislature has been in session a record 215 calendar days this year.
Members of the House and Senate negotiating team have had fruitless meetings behind closed doors several times this week to find middle ground in the roadblock.
"I'm fairly encouraged," King said. "Everybody's working real hard and making some progress. I don't know that we're going to get it done this week, but I hope we get it done during this session."
Texas Republicans want to send more members of their party to Congress. They say the state's voting trends are solidly GOP and that the 32-member congressional delegation should reflect that. Democrats, who hold a 17-15 advantage in the delegation, want to keep existing districts.
House Speaker Tom Craddick, a Midland native, has been adamant about creating a district that would give his hometown of Midland its own congressman. But, Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, opposes a separate district for Midland because it likely would eliminate agricultural representation from his region in Congress. Duncan heads the Senate's arm of the conference committee.
"It's becoming more remote as each hour goes by," said Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, who sponsored the Senate version of the map and has been a lead negotiator.
Several alternatives have been laid out by both sides, including one proposed Monday evening by House lawmakers.
"I don't think the modifications we were trying to make were satisfying them," Staples said, explaining the lack of progress during the meeting.
Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth, R-Burleson, put forward her plan as a proposal to committee memebers.
King said he expected conference members to continue meeting individually Tuesday evening.
"It's just hard to get 181 people to agree on anything," King said. "With the congressional delegation, the Voting Rights Act and all the minority issues and all the Republican and Democratic political influences out there in the world - add all that up and you've got a whole lot of people with a lot of different ideas," King said.
Perry has called Oct. 6 a "drop dead deadline" for both chambers to reach an agreement.
Once Perry signs a redistricting bill, it will take 90 days for the bill to take effect. If it takes lawmakers longer than that to reach a deal, the filing period for candidates to sign up to run for congress for the 2004 election could expire.
Also, any new congressional districts must be sent to the U.S. Justice Department at least 60 days before the filing starts.
10/01/03
Good ole boys squabbling about which good ole boys to protect... They're going to blow this. The dims have egg on their face. They've been dragged unwillingly to the table, but they're there. Any further goof-ups in this case lay SQUARELY on Republican shoulders.
I think there is a good chance they'll have to do another session because this is about stuff that is really serious to them because it affects them directly. Someone is going to lose his/her seat. I just don't see them being willing to accept that without a major brawl. Perhaps the deposed legislooters could be bought off with some cushy state dept job like an ambassadorship to the Caymans.
As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.
Step up, guys. Set a fire under the GOP folks doin the infighting ! ...
Huh?? Crossing the state line like a fugitive criminal is equivalent to "successfully fighting" something??
What a load.
BTW, isn't it time for these boys and girls to BE the majority now that they have the majority??
We'd all love it to be done right now, but I'm just grateful that the process has finally begun.
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