Texas GOP, Dems Duel Over Redistricting

[undergroundrailroad]

Texas GOP, Dems Duel Over Redistricting

By KELLEY SHANNON
The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 30, 2003; 3:14 AM


AUSTIN, Texas - Democratic and Republican senators dueled across the Texas-New Mexico line as each camp tried to score political points in the intensifying battle over congressional redistricting.

Republicans on Tuesday tried to coax 11 of the 12 Senate Democrats to return from Albuquerque, N.M., following their walkout Monday that forced the Senate to a standstill.

"No Texas problem has ever been solved in New Mexico," said Sen. Todd Staples, chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus. Democrats remained firm: "We're not here on a vacation," said Democratic Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos in Albuquerque.

The walkout comes less than three months after a similar move by House Democrats, who broke a quorum in their chamber and killed a redistricting bill by fleeing to Ardmore, Okla.

[Ilsa]

1. Gov. Perry taking some heat

Some Texas newspapers, even in some conservative areas, are calling Gov Perry a hypocrite or at least giving him a hard time about calling another session when there isn't the money for this crap and we have so many other problems.


http://www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2003/07/30/1059539379.15255.2180.3362.html

http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/opinion/editorials/story/1230140p-1465077c.html

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/073003/edi_073003010.shtml

[pop goes the weasel]

2. Wow!

And those papers are serving pretty conservative constituencies. I really think that DeLay's manuevering is going to blow up in his face.

[dfong63]

3. so, tell us again

"No Texas problem has ever been solved in New Mexico," said Sen. Todd Staples, chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus.

so tell us again Mr Staples, exactly what Texas problem this special session of the legislature is supposed to solve.

[mcd1982]

4. sen. staples

ahhh...the voice of reason from my state senator...

i'm glad the tx. state senators have broken the quorum, but I can't help but wonder if it will blow up in our faces...


matthew

[lastliberalintexas]

7. Hi Matthew

Sorry to hear that Todd the Toad is your state senator too. I've been battling with his office lately over why he is suporting the repub leadership over his constituents, since East Texas gets carved up pretty badly in these maps. All I can get is the platitude that he feels it's his duty to re-district since they didn't do it in 2001- an outright lie, but I expected no more from his office.

I live in Hardin county which gets put into 2 different Cong districts in most of the maps- and either way our Congresscritter is decided by the voters of Montgomery county. God I hate The Woodlands.

So what part of the district are you in?

Welcome to DU. You'll find many Texans here, and Dems of all stripes. Just try to avoid the flamefest candidate wars going on right now, and you'll enjoy it more. I need to heed my own advice there!

[mcd1982]

8. i'm in....

Nacogdoches county -- Max Sandlin is my congressman . I really HATE the thought of losing him as my congressman!

Yes, I have visited with Todd Staples on occassion and didn't think he was too bad -- until he started drawing maps. What a disappointment!

Matthew

[lastliberalintexas]

9. Oh no- he's a psycho!

In the 97 session when he was still just a state rep, he voted for a bill to raise the state's portion of the sales tax to 13% and extend it to food and prescription medicine. In this year's regular session, he (and every repub senator) supported Dewhurst's plan to raise sales taxes in exchange for lowering property taxes. They wanted to *only* raise the level to 10% this time, but they still wanted to extend it to food and prescription medicine.

This proposal also would have capped what local gov'ts could charge as to their portionof the sales tax, and capped what counties and school boards could set the property tax rates at. It was an awful bill that increased our extremely regressive sales tax and reduced the only tax that Texans pay which is deductible from our federal income taxes. So in reality, we would have been paying more in both sales and federal income taxes. Stupid idea.

Staples is just awful- bought and paid for by Texans for Lawsuit Reform. He does their bidding just as Perry does for DeLay!

Nacog county is nice, but it has turned soooo conservative over the past 15 years. My in-laws live in Nacog, and my hubby went to SFA. But Nacog certainly proves that not all college towns are liberal!

I hope you enjoy DU!

[mcd1982]

10. SFA

I go to SFA -- and I'm actually the current Young Democrats President at SFA -- we are working hard to try and make a difference in 2004 -- at least at the local level!

The college itself is fairly liberal -- but very apathetic -- plus, there is a large contingency of Green Party -- so, all in all, it's bad news for the Ds.

Matthew

[mndemocrat_29]

5. Speaking of New Mexico

I heard recently that they're considering redistricting as well, trying to eliminate Heather Wilson from her seat. I don't agree with redistricting after the census, but I wonder if the Republicans would stand back if Democrats threatened to do the same in states like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. Any way to get Denny Hastert out of office?

(I omitted California, because they're already voting on another obstruction of the electoral process. However, wouldn't it be just great to see Bill Thomas kicked out of office?

[pmbryant]

6. The Texas GOP and Gov Perry are an embarrassment

For allowing themselves to get played so badly by Tom DeLay.

Hooray for the Texas Dems!

:thumbsup:

--Peter