Texas House Approves Redistricting Map

[bluestateguy]

I'll be posting the names of Democrats (if any) who voted yes, once the House Journal publishes the recorded vote.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA9M1IGVHD.html

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The Texas House approved a map that redraws the state's congressional districts in favor of Republicans by a vote of 83-62 after more than nine hours of debate late Monday evening.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. They said they are going to go to the court

GOOD, are they still going to?

[bluestateguy]

2. Yes, but the Senate comes next

We can actually win in the Senate if 11 out of 12 Democrats stick together. If not, there will be multiple lawsuits. Worse case scenario, that will delay the map's implementation beyond the 2004 elections.

[jobycom]

5. Man am I glad we kept Barrientos

State senator from Austin. His district was redrawn to give it to the Repubs. They ran a multi-Dellionaire who had come to the state poor and had made his millions in the high-tech industry Barrientos had taken a lead in bringing to Austin. Luckily the Repubs lost, and this is a big part of the Senate's chances to block redistricting.

[bluestateguy]

6. ben bentzin

He ran an ad showing the video footage of Barrientos' drunk driving arrest. When I e-mailed Bentzin asking him if GWB and Dick Cheney were also unfit for office because they had 3 DWI's I got no response.

[Erika]

3. They better go to court!

Texas is seen as some third world country where the GOP have the power to steal fairness from the downtrodden and give it to the rich. I wouldn't live in Texas for any reason. I have to be in Dallas a few days next month and I will let all know what I think of their Nazi GOP majority.

[derby378]

10. If only you came to Dallas a few days ago

We could have given you directions to one of the local redistricting hearings. That way you could have seen that huge "Rick the Rat" inflatable rodent and "Darth DeLay" up close and personal. I got my own "Killer D's" shirt up there, too.

[IkeWarnedUs]

4. The Killer D's still deserve a standing ovation

The Republicans always had enough votes to push this through the TX House.

By running off and delaying the vote the Killer D's shined a spotlight on what was happening. This puts pressure on the TX Senate to block it or defend their reasons why not.

They are the only reason this is getting the exposure it is. Good Job!

:party::bounce::bounce::bounce::toast::bounce::bounce::bounce::toast::bounce::bounce::bounce::toast::bounce::bounce::bounce::party:

[dusty64]

7. I still want to know why

the use of "fatherland security" was allowed for blatant partisan politics. How is it that the repigs can get away with ANYTHING. I respect most of the Texas Democrats, but it seems as though their efforts were for nothing, I expect at least 2 "Dems" to roll in the Senate and bugman and rove to get everything they wanted (per usual). How are the courts stacked in Texas?

[BlueCollar]

8. at least one dem

Ron Wilson voted for the map.

I'll be at the Senate Hearing in Dallas this afternoon/evening. Let's see what we can do there.

Frankly, I'm not optimistic.

It's going to come down to the Senate vote...how many democratic senators will be bought?

[lastliberalintexas]

9. Two Dems voted against the party

Luna, Vilma, D-Corpus Christi and (of course) Wilson, Ron, D-Houston. Here's the link on how everyone voted.

http://www.statesman.com/legislature/content/coxnet/texas/legislature/0703/0708housevote.html

My repub Rep actually voted against this- he absolutely KNEW that he'd be run out of SE Texas for this vote. Since we've already been screwed at the state rep and senator level, I guess we're at least prepared for what happens when we lose representation at the Congressional level too.

The current 9th and 2d districts are being split into FIVE different districts, almost all of which will be controlled by Houston. And our state senators are from- you guessed it!- Houston, so I doubt we can count on them to help us out.

Now, back to that lounge thread I started about moving to New England...

[Mithras61]

11. I noticed several Reps voted against their parties

A few Republicans with a conscience:

Hamilton, Mike, R-Mauriceville N
Hughes, Bryan, R-Mineola N
Hunter, Bob, R-Abilene N
Jones, Delwin, R-Lubbock N
Miller, Sid, R-Stephenville N

and a couple of Dems without a clue:

Luna, Vilma, D-Corpus Christi Y
Wilson, Ron, D-Houston Y

[GOPisEvil]

12. Those in Corpus and Houston know what they have to do!

Primaries are in March. I hope the voters in those communities have long memories.

[jobycom]

28. Wilson

Glen Maxey has been claiming he will do everything in his power to get Wilson defeated. Maxey ran the Austin coordinated campaign in 2002, and barely lost anything. He's been saying he's going to devote all his time and energy to help someone defeat Wilson, and maybe Luna. They've got someone they are trying to woo to run against Wilson that they think has a good chance.

Democrats in Austin have spines. Here we cover our own.

[lastliberalintexas]

14. No, no, no

Hamilton does NOT have a conscience! You must now repent for eevn hinting at this. ;-)

Actually, he doesn't even have a brain. His handlers knew he couldn't vote for this- even local repubs were against it. His tiny little state rep district will be split into 3 or 4 Cong districts (hard to tell from the map). That's how badly we are getting screwed in SE Texas.

Hamilton's been a loyal repub vote on everything else this session, so the leadership let him off of this one.

Delwin Jones is a different story altogether. I think his district out there is more rural, and he's probably a lot like Laney. He's not like Isett anyway!

:hi: Ward!

[Mithras61]

15. Okay I take it back...

they aren't republicans with a conscience, they are repubes whose cojones were in a vise... :evilgrin:

and :hi: back at ya!

[Mithras61]

16. Okay I take it back...

they aren't republicans with a conscience, they are repubes whose cojones were in a vise... :evilgrin:

and :hi: back at ya!

[realFedUp]

13. The Dept. of Justice

gets to review redistricting....that's a laugh. No justice in Justice.

[VelmaD]

17. I was there til the end last night

it was surreal. Not one Repub got up and testified in favor of the redistricting plan before the vote last night. Not One.

There were several sensible ammendments that were offered up and shot down. Like capping lawyer salaries for any lawyers the State brings in to fight this. (The only time in history that TX rethugs have been in favor of paying lawyers more.) Or banning any law firms that are currently involved in litigation against the State from being retained to represent the State in the inevitable litigation. Or my personal favorite, from Richard Raymond, requiring the State to go to the DC District Court for pre-clearance of whatever plan passes rather than to the Dept of Justice. (He had some choice things to say about Ashcroft and Delay's influence at DOJ.)

Anyway, lots of Dems got up and spoke in opposition. Richard Raymond was wonderful. Rep. Burnam was quietly intense. Rep. McReynolds was folksy and articulate and just a perfect East Texas politician. Rep. Coleman and several of the other black House members were fun to listen to. The Hispanic caucus was really angry. And Rep. Villareal sounded exhausted and frankly, like he really needed a hug. The assembled crowd of reps had some really rude moments - talking and laughing while people were up there trying to make a difference.

By the end I think I was the only member of the public left. But I was there and I saw what they did. 83 in favor on the new map, 62 opposed, and 2 present not voting.

Sigh.

Darth Velma

[GOPisEvil]

19. I was watching on TV.

A sad, sad, day...

Dunnam was great, so was Castro from San Antonio. He got my crack of thie night award! :D

[kainah]

21. That seems to be a DeLay trademark

Fascinating that no one got up to speak in favor of it. I've been noticing this happening with increasing frequency in the US House of Reps. When controversial issues are being "debated," the repugs just sit it out, don't debate, vote against all sensible amendments & then vote in the outrage. When are these people going to stand up against DeLay???????????

Thanks for being there, VelmaD, and for the good report on it.

[Gman]

18. Senator Frank Madla had BETTER NOT sell out

when this comes to the Senate. I'm telling you, he better not sell out. If he does vote for this redistricting we will find someone to run against him in March. Frank is very, very sure that he's unbeatable. We'll be very happy to test him.

I think we could beat him.

[sam sarrha]

20. unhappy texan....

i am in el paso could soon be gerimandered into a republican dominated suberb of AUSTIN.....600 miles away, a narrow strip running down the dirt patch between the lanes of the freeway will connect me to Austin 600 miles away!!!. the plan is to make it look so worthless and hopeless to vote that we wont...BUT WE WILL BAND TOGETHER IN A SWARM AT ELECTION TIME AND EARN THE TITLE OF 'KILLER D's' we will take back the state from the DC Fascists in the voting booth. we will volunteer and register and drive fellow voters to the polls.. they have overthrown the goverment of the United States with the typical 'Dirty Tricks' common to them.. we will use the law and the vote, not privilage and family political appointments, and take back our country.

[Rose Siding]

24. Well, bless your heart, sam sarrha!

That IS the attitude. Welcome to DU :hi:

And VelmaD, thanks for the personal report :hi:

There are still 2 Democratic hearts in your Senate that must shrivil with short sighted, misplaced trust for the repubs to prevail. Would calls to either of them be advised?

[sam sarrha]

26. organizing against the right wing overthrough of freedom

i am a menber of www.MoveOn.org they contact you with current information, and have a VERY convient method of contacting your local politicians with e-petitions and personal input..fill in and submit, they supply you with lists of addresses, phone numbers of the people that can do something about the problems that threaten our freedom and nation. when the Killer D's were in OK i got the number to call and support them as it happened!

[sam sarrha]

27. organizing against the right wing overthrow of freedom

i am a menber of www.MoveOn.org they contact you with current information, and have a VERY convient method of contacting your local politicians with e-petitions and personal input..fill in and submit, they supply you with lists of addresses, phone numbers of the people that can do something about the problems that threaten our freedom and nation. when the Killer D's were in OK i got the number to call and support them as it happened!

[kainah]

22. James Carville said it yesterday on Crossfire

The repugs are opposed to democracy. We have to start tying these things together: the attempted impeachment of Clinton, the stolen 2000 election, the unprecedented mid-decade redistricting in TX and CO, and the California recall. They all show the repugs are ANTI-DEMOCRATIC -- and I don't mean the party. (2002, of course, belongs on the list but for most people that's totally unknown.)

[Hobarticus]

23. God, I miss Carville...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

25. Yes. but...

remember, Bush won the sel-election 5-4!!!