Saturday, July 28, 2001

Republicans romped in redistricting

AUSTIN - This year's redistricting fiasco in Texas is a prime example of why state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a Republican from San Antonio, has for years proposed taking the process out of the hands of elected officials.
   The most recent action was by the five-member Legislative Redistricting Board, which approved Texas House and Senate plans that obviously favor Republicans.
   But the redistricting board should never have had to redraw Texas House and Senate districts. The House and Senate failed to compromise on a plan during the legislative session, which threw the responsibility to the GOP-dominated board.
   Board members adopted a Senate plan that could give Republicans a bigger hold on the Senate, which they currently control 16-15. The House plan could give the GOP control of the House for the first time in 120 years. Democrats currently control the House 78-72.
   But if the courts uphold the redistricting plans, Republicans will become an even more dominant force in Texas politics. They already hold every statewide elected office.
   The House plan was one proposed by Attorney General John Cornyn, chairman of the Legislative Redistricting Board.
   It was no surprise that the board drew districts that favored Republicans. The board included four Republicans - Cornyn, State Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff and Land Commissioner David Dewhurst. The lone Democrat was House Speaker Pete Laney. Ratliff and Laney voted against the House and Senate plans.
   Laney offered his own House plan, calling Cornyn's proposal "an incumbent punishment plan for Democrats.'' Cornyn's plan could put as many as 88 Republicans in the 150-member House, jeopardizing Laney's future as House speaker.
   GOP officials are overjoyed with the new redistricting maps and have been gloating about the future. They have unsuccessfully tried to oust Laney as speaker for years.
   ''The only decision left for Pete Laney to make is how Texans will remember him: as a tenured statesman who gracefully exited the stage at the appropriate time, or as a bitter, past-his-time politician who would stop at nothing to maintain political power,'' said Susan Weddington, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Texas.
   The redistricting board also adopted Land Commissioner David Dewhurst's Senate plan on a 3-2 vote, with the same Republicans - Dewhurst, Cornyn and Rylander - voting in favor. That plan could give Republicans as many as 21 seats in the 31-member Senate.
   Democrats are fighting mad. The Republicans who backed the plans ''committed an act of unprecedented partisan greed,'' said Molly Beth Malcolm, chairwoman of the Texas Democratic Party. ''The Republican redistricting plans are a severe blow to the voting strength of minorities and women in Texas. They are an insult to Texas voters. It's a sad day when partisan politics are a higher priority than what's best for Texas and the voters of our state.''
   Democrats must get to work
   But this year's redistricting mess should be a wake-up call for Democrats to work harder than ever to return the Democratic Party to the stature it once enjoyed in Texas.
   Lawmakers need to take a hard look at the redistricting process and look for a more fair solution.
   Wentworth has pushed to change the process for many years. His proposal, which would require a constitutional amendment, calls for a bipartisan commission. Under his plan, the Republican and Democratic caucuses in the House and Senate would each appoint two citizens to the commission. The eight appointees would name a ninth, non-voting member to preside.
   A majority of the eight voting members would be required to approve redistricting maps. This may not be the best solution, but it would take the process out of the hands of politicians.
   Lawmakers have rejected this idea every time Wentworth has proposed it. During the legislative session in 2003, lawmakers should remember this year's redistricting fiasco and support changes that will lead to fair redistricting plans.
   Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau. He can be reached at 512-334-6640 or meighant@scripps.com
  
  

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Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau. You can reach him by phone at (512) 334-6640 or by email at meighant@scripps.com.

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