Free Republic

Young: The Three Redistricteers By John Young, Opinion page editor Recently on a Dallas radio talk show, Gov. Rick Perry acknowledged the turmoil over the three special sessions he has called to redraw congressional lines. Sure, it's been divisive and costly. But once it happens, he said, Texans will forget all about it. It's interesting that Perry has spent the last three months trying to bring about something he wants voters to forget. Look into his eyes. You are getting sleepy. You'd think a leader would want to do things that people would remember as good for the commonwealth. But...

Ambitions are fueling this fight Thursday, August 21, 2003 Folks wonder why Gov. Rick Perry, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, are risking political capital on congressional redistricting. Perhaps Republican politics. When Perry switched to the GOP in 1989, his mentor, then-U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm, a party-switcher himself, said a former Democrat had to be more Republican than other Republicans. Perry listened. Yet speculation continues that either U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or another former Democrat, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, will challenge Perry in 2006. Dewhurst's presumed game plan is to win another term in 2006 and then run for governor...

Family, friends bring support, supplies to Texas Demos in NM Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Family and friends of the self-exiled Democratic senators from Texas who are engaged in a stalemate with their Republican counterparts began arriving Friday to lend their support — and in some cases bring supplies. The Democrats — who refer to themselves as the "Texas 11" — bolted for New Mexico on Monday to protest Republican plans to redraw Texas' congressional districts. The Democrats hold a 17-15 advantage, but Republicans say that does not reflect the state's increasingly Republican voting patterns. The 11 have vowed...

Republican senators forge ahead on redistricting plans Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — Republicans with high hopes of taking over the Texas delegation in the U.S. House seem to be giving up hope on redrawing congressional lines — at least for the seven days remaining in the current special legislative session. With 12 state senators vowing to vote against any redistricting measure, a required two-thirds majority needed to debate the issue would likely not be achieved this session, no matter what variation of the map emerges. "I am not optimistic at this point that something will happen" this session, said Sen....

Ratliff joins effort to block redistricting bill BY NATALIE GOTT Associated Press Writer AUSTIN - Republican Sen. Bill Ratliff said Monday he would join with 10 other senators in attempting to block a congressional redistricting bill from reaching the Senate floor. Ratliff, former acting lieutenant governor, said he has told Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst of a statement signed by 10 other senators stating their "unalterable opposition" to any motion to bring up redistricting for debate. "I have advised the lieutenant governor that I am adding my name to that statement," Ratliff said outside the Senate chamber. Under longstanding Senate...