another winning game in texas:
Redistricting Deal in Tex. Is Reached
GOP Lawmakers Settle Their Dispute
Associated Press
Thursday, October 9, 2003; Page A14
AUSTIN, Oct. 8 -- Texas House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement in principle Wednesday to redraw the state's congressional boundaries, settling a dispute among Republican lawmakers, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) said.
After days of closed-door meetings, legislators reached a deal after U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R) met with state officials in the state Capitol for three days this week. The final sticking point was over how to draw the districts in West Texas.
"It is my hope that we can have a final map that we can show you tomorrow morning," Dewhurst said.
Some details still need to be ironed out, but the agreement reached by the conference committee covers the entire map, a Dewhurst aide said.
The agreement still must be approved by a majority of the House and the Senate. The chambers are to convene again on Friday.
Gov. Rick Perry (R) is expected to sign the redistricting legislation.
Democrats, who control the state's U.S. House delegation 17 to 15, want to keep the current district boundaries. They boycotted the Texas Legislature twice this year to block a quorum and kill the redistricting bills.
House Democrats fled to Ardmore, Okla., in May, for four days to block the measure in the regular legislative session.
Senate Democrats went to Albuquerque, N.M., for six weeks beginning in late July to shut down the redistricting process during a second special legislative session. |
