So, what was the rush? Why were the Republicans so hot on shoving their redistricting plan down the throats of Democrats in the Texas House? Why not make sure that what was being proposed was the right thing to do for the right reasons? Or was it left until the last minute exactly so Republicans could force it through with a minimum of examination and deliberation?
First, if the issue had to come to surface this cramped legislative’ session, it should have been lead by Republicans in Austin, now one from Washington. To come to Texas like Tom DeLay did and be so flamboyant about the issue muddied the water immediately. Then to rush the proposal through committee and on to the House floor so quickly when there were so many other more important issues like the budget, school finance, insurance, and others, was perceived by the Democrats both in the House and Senate as a blatant power move. Thus the Democratic boycott.
Redistricting was so controversial an issue two years when it had to done, and parties so divided, that Congressional districts had to be drawn by a district court. At that time Democrats held a slight majority in Austin. Now with Republicans in the same position, and redistricting not mandated by law, why would anyone think it could be rammed through an already stressed out Texas House and Senate....
Any redistricting plan prior to 2010 needs to be brought out early in a session for deliberation. That is the only possible way to get it implemented. There must be a bi-partisan approach to the plan, if the Republicans can’t get the votes in the House and Senate to get their plan through. Even then, the cramming of a plan down the throats of Texans is not going to be perceived kindly around the state. It could well cost a number of legislators their seats in Austin and Washington.
I'm not against redistricting, and I do understand that, majority rule being what it is, Republicans had the opportunity to propose a plan that would be largely to their advantage. Were roles to be reversed, Democrats would be doing much the same thing. My issue is with the way the Republican leadership handled an issue so important to the future of all Texans.
There was a better way for Republicans to cement their majority status than by forcing a poorly designed and even more poorly thought out plan on Texans. Perhaps they thought that, if they waited until the last minute, they could use the urgency and chaos of the end of the legislative session to squeeze it through before anyone who isn't rabidly Republican could get a good look at it.
This redistricting plan is sound only if you look at it for purely political reasons. Anyone looking at it from a logical or a logistical standpoint will quickly see it for what it is: Tom DeLay's tool for removing the Democrat's 17-15 advantage in Congressional seats. Redstricting should be about what provides the most effective representation for the people of Texas, not which plan is most cravenly and absurdly redrawn to serve the majority political party.
Texas deserves better, and the Democrats who fled to Ardmore, OK last week deserve to be commended for recognizing that fact and acting on their convictions.
