Texas congressional redistricting

[RandomGuy]

Funny that this and the fake-issue solving "voter ID" initiative will arguably have the ultimate effect of marginalizing traditionally Democratic voting blocs of citizens.

Unfortunately, for the cynical s in the state GOP that push this bull on us, some of those groups tend to be protected by the voter rights act.

Whoopsies.

Republicans hate it when liberals "play the race card", but I have to wonder what it says about the Republican party when minorities so clearly see that the GOP, despite what someone correctly noted as having some congruence of conservative values, consistantly tends to vote Democratic.

Conservatives will blather on about the GOP as being representative of "good Christian values", but then fail to reconcile the Christian value of empathy for the poor, with the nasty comments about the poor that the rich white guys that run the GOP consistantly spew, and what I can only call the Republican War on the Poor.

That, to me, is the underlying difference between the two parties, whatever their foibles.

Democrats have a war on poverty, Republicans have a war on the poor.

Redistricting, voter IDs, and dismantling of any social safety nets, all make for a pretty clear pattern of behavior, that I think people innately sense, whether than can put it into words or not.

[Winehole23]

A three judge federal court in San Antonio a few minutes ago told the Republican and Democratic parties in Texas to plan their primaries not prior to Tuesday, May 29.

The primary is currently set for April 3, but because of delays in the ongoing court challenge by minority plaintiffs to the election districts drawn by the Republican controlled legislature, election administrators from Dallas and Tarrant counties and other large cities said they could not draw the maps, set new voter registration cards and send out overseas ballots in time.

The Republican Party of Texas pushed for an April 17 primary or at the least April 24. The judges sided with elections officials that there wouldn't be enough time to prepare for those dates either.

At this pace, the judges have until March 3 to draw new maps for Texas' 2012 election that will allow counties and the state to prepare for a May 29 primary.

Although the judges told the state and plaintiffs they would not formally set a May 29 date at this time, the parties should plan for that.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Ju...139385073.html

[Wild Cobra]

What a mess I haven't been following this, but from the little I heard, what a royal pain.

I will say this again. I think we need to get rid on the 435 limit on representatives, and have one for every X to y in population. Maybe one for every 100,000 to 200,000 people, to allocate one for every 150k. Get rid of the federal spending on them and let the communities decide their compensation. This would be so much simpler in some way, but more complex because of the numbers.

[coyotes_geek]

Dear God, creating more congresscritters is the last thing we need.

[Winehole23]

311,591,917/200,000 = 1557.95959

[Wild Cobra]

Dear God, creating more congresscritters is the last thing we need.

So many more for big money to have to buy off.

[Winehole23]

and worth every penny

[ElNono]

Wasn't filing the lawsuit directly supposed to expedite this whole thing?

[Winehole23]

The parties told the judge they were close to an agreement at the beginning. That seems not to have been the case.

[Winehole23]

Wasn't filing the lawsuit directly supposed to expedite this whole thing?

The primary is currently set for April 3, but because of delays in the ongoing court challenge by minority plaintiffs to the election districts drawn by the Republican controlled legislature, election administrators from Dallas and Tarrant counties and other large cities said they could not draw the maps, set new voter registration cards and send out overseas ballots in time.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Ju...139385073.html

[ElNono]

Thanks, I read that. That's why I was asking. I guess it backfired after all.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

One more reason why the single member district needs to be replaced by a different system. i hope in my lifetime i see one state try something different.

[CosmicCowboy]

I'm hearing May 29th now.

[Winehole23]

A three judge federal court in San Antonio a few minutes ago told the Republican and Democratic parties in Texas to plan their primaries not prior to Tuesday, May 29.

[Winehole23]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/loc...ps-3367742.php

[Winehole23]

Here is a link to the Congressional map on the Texas Legislative Council's redistricting website.


Here is a link to the House map on TLC's website.


Here is a link to the Senate map on TLC's website.


And here (courtesy of TxRedistricting.org) are links to the court's orders on the three maps: Congress, House and Senate.


Barring appeals, these maps will be used for the 2012 elections. Below are the new maps. We'll fill in details throughout the afternoon.

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-re...ouse-congress/

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Lol District 50 in Travis County.

[coyotes_geek]

Well, at least I get taken out of Lamar Smith's district. So that's something.

[leemajors]

Well, at least I get taken out of Lamar Smith's district. So that's something.

http://boingboing.net/2012/02/29/sop...everythin.html

[coyotes_geek]

One of many things not to like about him.....