http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10018244&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=8



MRT - Nonpartisan panel may be needed on redistricting



Midland Reporter-Telegram

08/16/2003



Texas' efforts at redistricting for the purpose of electing our U.S. 

Congressmen are getting silly and it may be time to take the matter out 

of the hands of the politicians in Austin and try a different approach.



Gov. Rick Perry has said he'll continue to call special legislative 

sessions on congressional redistricting until the issue is resolved. The 

Texas Constitution allows a governor to call a 30-day special session on 

any topic any time.



However, the 11 Texas Senate Democrats who remain in New Mexico to 

protest Republican-backed redistricting have responded by saying they're 

staying put.



They've been in Albuquerque since July 28th in protest of the second 

special legislative session on redistricting.



Sen. Judith Zaffirini says she and the other Texas Democrats are 

prepared to stay in New Mexico and their resolve is said to be stronger 

than ever. The boycotting senators have started facing minimum fines of 

$1,000 per day, as ordered by other members of the Senate. The fines 

escalate to $5,000 per day.



Sen. Rodney Ellis of Houston calls it a poll tax and won't pay it. 

Democrats, boycotting the Senate over congressional redistricting, will 

follow suit and not pay the fines their Republican colleagues imposed on 

them if they miss a Senate session. The Republicans voted to fine the 11 

Democrats for each day they're absent from the legislative session.



Since the redistricting effort is so important to the interests of the 

Permian Basin, we feel Texas should have a better way of solving this 

issue. This job isn't going to be done with whining Republicans and 

hide-and-seek Democrats. There's a job that needs to be done, so let's 

find a way to do it.



Gaining momentum is an idea for a nonpartisan citizen's commission to 

work on redistricting and advise the legislature. In fact, legislation 

toward that end has been proposed and efforts are under way for a ballot 

initiative on such a measure on the statewide ballot this November.



Proponents of this movement want to establish a permanent citizens' 

redistricting commission of equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and 

Independents and would take effect immediately upon passage.



The citizens' commission would deal with Congress and Texas legislative 

seats, similar to what has already been established in Arizona by a 

citizens' referendum.



We're tired of the partisan bickering that seems to keep jumping state 

lines. We, too, say there is a better way to solve redistricting issues. 

If they can't do it in Austin, let the public fix it. We guarantee that 

will work.