Free Republic

House passes map, but West Texas plan clashes with Senate vision And on the second day of the third special session, without the raucous crowd that a day earlier had egged one side on and aggravated the other, peace and love reigned in the Texas Senate. Tuesday's outbreak of interparty peace, including movement toward dropping fines imposed on the Democrats during their 45-day boycott, shifted the focus to GOP intraparty fighting that could become the biggest obstacle to new congressional maps. "I think they changed people's medicines last night," Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, joked after watching Monday's opening day mayhem...

Local leaders fire away at redistricting By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL City and chamber officials said Friday that Austin legislators should take heed: Don't mess with West Texas. Lubbock Chamber of Commerce President Eddie Mc Bride made the comment at a news conference where he also noted that U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, was elected from a district that voted 67 percent Republican in November. "They want to pit Republicans against Democrats in districts that are already Republican," McBride said. In a plan approved by the state House, Lubbock and Midland/Odessa would be in separate congressional districts, and Lubbock would be...

West Texans gain audience with Dewhurst Redistricting up for debate Click here to see the redistricting proposals By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told a group of West Texans on Monday that he believes the governor will call a second special session on redistricting if legislators reach an impasse on drawing new congressional districts. He also said Lubbock and Midland — currently in the same U.S. District 19 — appear headed for a split at the behest of state House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland. "The speaker's primary concern is that the ultimate bill contain a seat that can...