Texas doesn't need costly, contentious redistricting ploy

Houston Chronicle ^ | February 2, 2003 | Editorial Board

[Dog Gone]

While politicians wrestle with budgets and other lofty matters of public interest in the legislative arena, they also grapple in a more shadowy venue -- the corridors and cloakrooms of officialdom -- over lower matters of purely political interest.

One such needless contest is the curious urging from Washington to have lawmakers in Austin redraw Texas congressional lines. It's a divisive ploy that this state doesn't need and can ill afford.

Legislators must redraw the lines every 10 years, following the U.S. Census. A three-judge panel ended up drawing Texas' current map in 1991 after legislators could not arrive at a plan.

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and others are lobbying state leaders to take up the matter in Austin, where Republicans control both houses of the Legislature and the governorship.

U.S. Reps. Gene Green and Chris Bell, Houston Democrats whose party, of course, could be adversely affected, showed up soon after the lobbying began and sounded an alarm to the Chronicle's Editorial Board. Their colleague, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, followed with a phone call.

Then came another member of Houston's congressional delegation, Rep. U.S. Rep. John Culberson, who at least attached a fig leaf rationale to the lobbying effort. Culberson argued that a stronger GOP presence in the Texas congressional delegation (Republicans hold 15 of Texas' 32 seats) would help the state hold its own against other big and powerful states like California and Florida when committee assignments are parceled out in Washington.

The ploy is part of a national push outlined in a recent Roll Call article by Stuart Rothenberg. "Political junkies," he wrote, "are abuzz at the possibility that a few state legislatures could redraw their congressional lines this year, shifting a series of political balances and potentially giving Republicans a handful of more hospitable districts going into the 2004 elections."

"Many Lone Star State GOPers are eager" for the redraw, he added, citing that a a state judge initially drew a map that would have elected 20 Republicans to Congress from Texas.

But a gaggle of editorial writers from across the state last week queried Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Speaker Tom Craddick (all Republicans) and several key legislative leaders and were told almost universally that a redistricting fight was not in the cards.

"Congressional redistricting is almost as attractive as contagious flu," Dewhurst said.

The disconnect between what Austin polls were saying and what Washington polls have been saying makes the matter even more intriguing.

No such redistricting has taken place for more than half a century, and it need not start now.

A redistricting fight would be a distraction, would set a bad precedent and would certainly cloud the bipartisanship that Texas' leaders need to draw on as they deal with the state budget crisis and other critical matters.

Furthermore, the cost of a redistricting effort would be substantial and, no doubt, would be tied up in costly litigation.

At a time when Texas is grasping for pennies to immunize Texas children, they don't need to waste resources giving booster shots to political power plays.

[Dog Gone]

What a shock. The Houston Chronicle opposes redrawing the current Democrat-gerrymandered congressional districts.

[Dog Gone]

Good, they're getting worried.

[deport]

LOL.... I'm not sure they are that worried but want to make sure they keep their presence known. I don't believe there will be an effort at this time..... but it would be nice to see them realign more with the voting patterns that have emerged over the past few years.....

But a gaggle of editorial writers from across the state last week queried Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Speaker Tom Craddick (all Republicans) and several key legislative leaders and were told almost universally that a redistricting fight was not in the cards.

I think the above really says it all....

[Cicero]

Let's see. U.S. Reps. Gene Green and Chris Bell, and their colleague, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, phoned the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle with the official Democrat talking points, and the Houston Chronicle then proceeds to publish these talking points as news.

One more overt sign that most of the media are wholly owned subsidiaries of the DNC. No wonder all but the most liberal voters no longer believe them.

[Dog Gone]

I can't help but think that if the situation were reversed, and the Texas Legislature had the opportunity to undo Republican gerrymandering, the Chronicle would have a different tune.

[lonestar]

My Democrat congressman's the president of the "Blue Dogs" and votes almost 100% with Sheila Jackson-Lee.

[MeekOneGOP]

Interesting. Thanks...

[Dog Gone]

John Culberson's west Houston district is ridiculous. The Democrats deliberately packed all conservative neighborhoods into that one district, and he wins with about 90% of the vote.

Shift some of those voters into Chris Bell's district, and he gets only one term in Congress.

[Free the USA]

fyi

[Texas_Jarhead]

I'd like to query this so-called 'editorial board' as to how many of its members are Republicans.

[Dog Gone]

From my analysis, not more than two out of the 14. And those two are not what I'd call solidly conservative.

[kittymyrib]

Oh, yes, the old Houston Chronically Democrat is carrying water for the pathetic Sheila Jackson Lee and Gene Green, squelching any plan to re-district Texas now that it's heavily Republican.
Incredible that Gov. Perry (all ex-dems so they can be elected) sees no need to redraw districts after HALF A CENTURY! Perhaps we need to go back to the amount spent by the state 50 years ago then too. Every Republican in Texas ought to squawk about this blatant attempt by the liberal media and the Democrats to hang on to power after the entire political landscape in Texas has changed tremendously in the past 30 years. This is why I would never subscribe to the UT -liberal-dominated papers we have in this state. If you give them your money, you are part of the problem, too.

[Holden Magroin]

So what are the chances? Can they get the two-thirds to revist the map?

[KQQL]

@

[Dog Gone]

The Chronicle seems worried enough about it to run this editorial cartoon this morning.

[Redbob]

"I can't help but think that if the situation were reversed, and the Texas Legislature had the opportunity to undo Republican gerrymandering, the Chronicle would have a different tune."

Dya think?