Redistricting One Step Closer {to final passage}

Laredo, TX, Morning Times ^ | 10-10-03 | Castro, April, AP

[Theodore R.]

Redistricting one step closer

BY APRIL CASTRO Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN - The family feud appears over and Texas Republicans are a step closer to having a majority in the state's congressional delegation.

"The majority of the voters in the state of Texas support President George W. Bush and his policies. The majority of our congressional delegation does not, and that's just not fair," Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Thursday as Republican leaders unveiled a redistricting map that would put more Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation.

It likely would put more Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation, where Democrats hold a 17-15 advantage.

Webb County also was split in half, a move Valley and Laredo lawmakers have vigorously opposed.

Republicans Dewhurst, Gov. Rick Perry and House Speaker Tom Craddick touted the compromise map finalized earlier in the day to end months of fighting.

The map would add as many as six Republicans to the Texas congressional delegation, a Craddick aide said. Democrats, however, say the map would add seven Republicans.

The conference committee agreement still must be approved by the majority of the Texas House and Senate. Both chambers are to convene Friday. Another bill to be considered on Friday would push back the Texas primary election to March 9, to allow time for new congressional districts to be incorporated on the ballot.

Gerry Hebert, an attorney for most Texas Democrats in the Legislature and in Congress, said a court challenge will be filed "promptly." He would not specify how soon.

"It is an affront to Democrats and voting rights and it is an incredible abuse of power, especially when the Texas Legislature relinquishes its power to one congressman, Tom DeLay, to do its dirty work."

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, had implored Republican leaders in Austin to take up redistricting during the regular legislative session. DeLay spent the past three days in the Texas Capitol in an attempt to broker a deal.

Under the new map, the mostly minority district of U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, in the Arlington area, would probably be decimated. But Republicans say two minority seats were created, one in Houston and one that stretches from the Mexico border to Austin.

Travis County is split three ways in the new map, putting popular Democratic incumbent Lloyd Doggett in a mostly Republican district.

Perry said the map "achieves our principal goal of giving voters districts that are fair and representative, and it reflects the philosophy and voting patterns of Texas."

After months of opposition from Democrats, a compromise had been thwarted by Republican infighting when the majority party couldn't agree on a shape of West Texas congressional districts.

Craddick has been adamant about ensuring that his home district in Midland have a congressional seat to represent the Permian Basin's oil and gas industry. Midland - in a district paired with San Angelo - would probably anchor a congressional seat under the plan.

But, veteran U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, and newcomer Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, could be forced into a face-off and have to run against each other. Both represent agricultural areas, but Stenholm could choose to run in another district.

Lubbock Republican Sen. Robert Duncan - noticeably absent from Thursday's announcement - opposed pairing the two because farming interests of the region would lose representation. The two chambers had rallied their respective stances, taking shots at each other and refusing to budge until Wednesday.

"My primary goal was to preserve agriculture's representation in Congress for the future," Duncan said. "Despite the reservations many of us had about changing the Congressional lines in any way, I believe the Senate plan would have achieved our goal for agriculture and met the requirements of the Voting Rights Act."

Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, argued the map was unfair.

"Rural and minority Texas has been trampled on and the rights of Texans of all walks of life, of all parties, have been taken away by this crime that has been committed here today," Coleman said.

Democrat Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, said the plan "clearly violates the Voting Rights Act."

But Perry, maintained that the plan reflects Texan's voting trends.

"For too long millions of Texans have lived in gerrymandered districts that were drawn to protect incumbents rather than the public interest," Perry said.

Democrats boycotted the Legislature twice this year to block a quorum, killing redistricting bills. House Democrats fled to Ardmore, Okla., in May and Senate Democrats went to Albuquerque, N.M., for six weeks starting July 28.

10/10/03