Saturday, May 5, 2001

Lege is on edge over redistricting

AUSTIN - The hugs and smiles of the opening day of the session are distant memories now as the Legislature heads into the final month, facing perhaps the toughest issue a legislative body considers.
   Redistricting takes place every 10 years after the U.S. Census Bureau releases new population numbers. Lawmakers must redraw districts for the Legislature, the Texas congressional delegation and the State Board of Education.
   The good news is that it happens just once every 10 years. The bad news is that once every 10 years, the Legislature divides into a deeply partisan body and friends often become enemies as they fight for their political life.
   Mood is tense
   The mood at the Legislature has become increasingly tense in the past week. Lawmakers, staff, lobbyists and others are working long hours to accomplish as much as possible before May 28, the last day of the session. Debate on the budget, teacher health insurance, hate crimes and other major legislation is still ahead. But a recent incident on the Senate floor shows how tense things are getting.
   The Senate is known for its decorum and senators usually show respect for one another. But in a dispute over a home loan bill, Dallas lawmakers John Carona and Royce West poked each other in the chest before they had to be separated.
   Republican Carona wanted Democrat West to delay an amendment on the bill. West agreed to delay - for 30 minutes, which upset Carona who wanted more time to discuss the amendment with industry lobbyists. Carona walked quickly across the chamber to West and cussed at him as the two poked each other in the chest. Senate security and other lawmakers intervened. Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, escorted Carona off the floor but he returned a few minutes later and approached West.
   That prompted acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff to order Carona to the other side of the chamber. ''I'm sorry, I don't want things to get out of hand,'' Ratliff said.
   And all this is happening before lawmakers begin official debate on redistricting, which is considered the most contentious issue. The incident on the Senate floor may be tame compared with what's ahead.
   Already, the House redistricting plan has pitted lawmakers against members of their own party. Republicans are outraged at the plan, which was designed by a committee chaired by Republican state Rep. Delwin Jones of Lubbock.
   Republican Party Chairwoman Susan Weddington began a petition drive to pressure lawmakers not to support the proposal. Republicans say the proposal will decrease the number of House Republicans and protect the political career of House Speaker Pete Laney, a Democrat.
   ''With Democrats vigorously supporting a plan that is a thinly veiled attempt to protect the career of Speaker Pete Laney, it is vitally important that Texans urge their lawmakers to do what is right for the people of Texas, not incumbent politicians,'' Weddington said.
   Republicans, who control the Senate 16 to 15, hope to gain control of the House. Democrats hold a 78 to 72 advantage in the House.
   A veto ahead?
   Republican Gov. Rick Perry is expected to veto the redistricting plan that lawmakers approve. If Perry vetoes the plan, the Republican-dominated Legislative Redistricting Board would take up the issue. The board includes the comptroller, attorney general, land commissioner, lieutenant governor and house speaker. Only the house speaker is a Democrat. But that doesn't mean the Republicans will have their way in redistricting, because the U.S. Department of Justice must approve the plans.
   Whatever happens in the end, the next few weeks will be lively. No matter how tense the negotiations become in the next few weeks, lawmakers should remember the question former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock frequently asked: ''What's best for Texas?'' That, in the end, is lawmakers' ultimate responsibility and the reason voters elected them.
   Ty Meighan is chief of the Scripps Howard Austin Bureau and 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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