Burnt Orange Report

Bait and Swith: Dewhurst Offers a Deal

By Byron LaMasters

Lt. Gov. Dewhurst is trying to buy off minority Senators to agree to a map. It's purely a bait-and-switch effort that won't work, because all of the south Texas senators have sworn their opposition to redistricting. But, it won't stop Dewhurst from trying. The McAllen Monitor reports:

Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Wednesday offered a deal to senators opposed to congressional redistricting in an effort to allow House Bill 3 to reach the floor.

Dewhurst offered to create “minority districts” in South Texas and offered funding for the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) located in the Rio Grande Valley.

“They tried to buy us out like Judas,” said State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, who has been leading the charge against redistricting. “They offered us two ‘minority districts’ and the $19 million that they’ve already committed to the RAHC, but have been holding hostage. But why did they have to use the word ‘minority? We are Americans, we are Texans and we are loyal to our constituents. We are not going to sell out for two pieces of silver. We were offended and we said ‘no.’” During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Dewhurst said he has always supported fairness, and fairness justified redistricting. “The majority of voters here in Texas support President George W. Bush and his policies,” Dewhurst said. “The majority of the congressional delegation does not — that’s not fair.”

[...]

“I personally want to see a map that reflects the wisdom of our entire senate,” Dewhurst said. “Our committee began work earlier this afternoon on a strong initial map. The map can be improved for the good of the state and it is now time for our Democratic friends to become part of that process.”

Hinojosa said not everyone against redistricting is a Democrat. “Many of our Republican friends are also against redistricting,” Hinojosa said. “It’s the Republican leadership that’s trying to push it through. There’s a difference.”

Dave Beckwith, a press secretary for Dewhurst, did not return repeated telephone calls seeking comment.

Hinojosa also expressed dismay at Dewhurst’s denial that his office has been in contact with the White House about congressional redistricting.

“Karl Rove is in constant contact with the leaders in the Senate and the House,” Hinojosa said. “What they are doing now is, they don’t want Bush to get tainted.”

Rove, Bush’s senior advisor and chief strategist, was out of town Thursday and unavailable for comment, according to his office, who then referred a reporter to the White House Press Office.

Taylor Gross, Bush’s secretary for Texas, did not return telephone calls for comment.

On Tuesday Beckwith confirmed to The Monitor that Dewhurst has spoken to Rove about congressional redistricting during “a casual conversation with Karl Rove a few weeks ago.”

Also on Tuesday, Gross said Rove makes many telephone calls and that to his knowledge had been in touch with at least one Texas legislator on redistricting.

[...]

“As each day ticks by and there’s not map, we’re just wasting taxpayer money to please Tom DeLay,” Hinojosa said.

[...]

On Monday, Hinojosa, nine other Democratic senators and one Republican — Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mt. Pleasant — signed a letter of commitment, vowing to block any redistricting legislation.

One more Democrat has signed on, bringing the total senators on record against redistricting to 12.

Only one Democratic senator, Ken Armbrister, D-Victoria, has failed to indicate how he would vote on redistricting.

In a Senate that operates under a two-thirds rule, 11 of the 31 senators can block legislation from coming to the floor for debate or vote. But that two-thirds rule might not be around during a second special session, Hinojosa said.

Instead, a simple majority can pass a redistricting bill and map through the Senate during a second special session.

Hinojosa said a quorum would still be required for the Senate to use the simple majority rule. It would require the presence of all 11 of the dissident senators to constitute a quorum.

“If they’re going to sell out the Senate, we’re going to walk,” Hinojosa said. “We’ve got 11 senators willing to break quorum.”

Well, hooray for Sen. Hinojosa! It looks like he's quickly becoming the Richard Raymond of the Senate. He's doing a great job filling the big shoes of his predecessor ("Dirty Thirty" member and Killer Bee), the great Sen. Carlos Traun (D-Corpus Christi), who retired last year. (On a side note, I had an honor of having lunch with Sen. Truan and his wife at last year's Texas Democratic Convention by sheer luck. My friend and I had sat down at this restaurant in downtown El Paso when the Senator and his wife came in. The restaurant was full, but we had two extra seats at our table, and we invited them to sit with us. I wish that I had taken the Texas politics and elections course before meeting Truan, so that I would have had a better understanding of all the work the Traun had when I thanked him for his service to the senate. It goes without saying that the Senator and his wife were fascinating people, and I was honored for him to thank me for getting involved at my age.)

Posted by Byron LaMasters at July 18, 2003 02:07 PM | TrackBack