Free Republic

Redistricting fight continues Gov. Perry calls for third special session BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer After more than six weeks of personal financial and family sacrifice to fight the Republican leadership on congressional redistricting, the "Texas 11 Minus One" are coming home Wednesday. Laredo will be their first stop in the Lone Star State. Eight of the 10 Democratic state senators are expected to fly in from Albuquerque, N.M. Wednesday. They will land at 4:30 p.m. at Labata FBO, a private hangar at the Laredo International Airport, and will be joined later by senators Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville...

Kazen opts for judicial panel to decide lawsuit BY TRICIA CORTEZ Times staff writer Chief U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen, said Wednesday he did not agree with the 11 Democratic state senators' decision to oppose Republican redistricting by "not showing up for work." At the same time, however, Kazen said, "Let's chill out for a while and stop, stop spending taxpayers money and get this ruled on ... (Civility) has been the sad victim in all of this." He likened the bitter Republican-Democrat standoff to "the Middle East" with both camps looking for "total victory or total surrender." He...