Senate approves redistricting measure, sends to governor07:00 PM CDT on Sunday, October 12, 2003
AUSTIN - A six-month battle in the Texas Legislature ended Sunday when the Senate passed a congressional redistricting plan in a third special legislative session.
The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who is expected to sign it into law.
The new map, approved in the Senate by a 17-14, likely will give Republicans the majority in the Texas Congressional delegation that is now ruled 17-15 by Democrats.
Democrats have opposed every attempt by Republicans to pass a new plan, saying the current congressional boundaries drawn by a court in 2001 should remain in place. Republicans say current voting trends show Texas should have more GOP representation in Washington.
Republicans have said they could pick up as many as six additional seats in the delegation. Democrats said the map would add seven Republicans.
The bill's passage ends six months of bizarre events, including two walkouts by Democrats, three special sessions and harsh GOP infighting.
While the legislative battle over congressional redistricting is over, the feud continues. Democrats have pledged to take their fight to court.
Republicans were hoping to end the redistricting debate last week, as the House moved swiftly to approve the map Friday. But in another strange twist, the Senate held off its vote to wait for the House to approve an unrelated bill to reorganize some parts of state government.
By the time that bill was eligible in the House on Friday, there were not enough state representatives left at the Capitol for the chamber to take up the bill. The House adjourned without taking up the government reorganization bill and the Senate delayed their vote on redistricting.
The House reconvened Sunday and approved the government reorganization bill by a 79-35 vote before adjourning.
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