Saturday, May 26, 2001

Legislators fail to finish their work

AUSTIN - Imagine if your boss gave you and your co-workers 140 days to accomplish an important project that included two major phases - and you failed to complete one of them by the deadline. You would probably face disciplinary action or worse, and your boss would have no confidence in you to complete future projects.
   This is what has happened to the 77th Legislature, which had two main duties to accomplish this session: approve the state budget and pass a redistricting plan.
   Redistricting is the once a decade process to realign districts based on Census figures so voters have an equal representation in the Legislature, Congress and state Board of Education.
   Lawmakers passed a budget but failed in their efforts to redraw district lines. The House passed a redistricting plan but the Senate couldn't even get enough votes to debate a plan, which killed the House plan. Two-thirds of senators are required before they can debate legislation on the floor.
   Legislators spent dozens of hours on many major issues, which produced good laws, and there's no question they worked hard this session. But their lack of ability to compromise and work together on redistricting is disturbing.
   In reality, the Senate didn't even come close to passing a redistricting plan. The process fell victim to partisan bickering - mostly among Republicans - in the historically bipartisan Senate.
   This gridlock is why state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, has for years proposed a constitutional amendment to put the redistricting process in the hands of an independent, bipartisan citizens committee. This proposal, which has never passed the Legislature, would take the process away from state lawmakers.
   Many lawmakers believe such a citizen committee isn't needed because it is the Legislature's constitutional duty to produce a redistricting plan. At the beginning of this session, Gov. Rick Perry expressed confidence that lawmakers could do what's best for Texas in redistricting.
   "Texans want us to pass a balanced budget," he said in his Jan. 24 State of the State address. "They want us to continue to improve schools and health care and to meet basic needs. And I believe they want us to craft legislative districts that are fair and compact - reflecting the people's best interests."
   But that's not what happened.
   Lawmakers couldn't accomplish their job and now the Legislative Redistricting Board must step in and try to devise a plan this summer that will survive court challenges. Perry can call lawmakers into a special session but only to consider new districts for Congress and the State Board of Education, or he could just let the courts decide.
   The LRB is made up of acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, House Speaker Pete Laney, Attorney General John Cornyn, Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander and Land Commissioner David Dewhurst. The panel will have 90 days to begin meeting and 60 more to devise a plan.
   Plan may end up in court
   Democrats are concerned because the redistricting board is Republican, except for Laney. But Democrats will be monitoring the board's actions to make sure they don't draw up a plan that favors Republicans. Most observers expect the plan to end up in court anyway.
   At stake is control of the Legislature. Republicans hope to gain control of the House but Democrats hold a 78 to 72 advantage. Republicans hold a 16-15 edge in the Senate.
   No matter what happens, Texans should be disappointed in their elected officials' inability to do their jobs and pass a redistricting plan. Wentworth had some good advice for Texans a year ago as the Senate and House redistricting committees sought public input on the process. And his advice is even more pertinent now that lawmakers failed to pass a redistricting plan.
   "Nothing but good can result from lawmakers hearing from their bosses - you, the people of Texas," Wentworth said.
  

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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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