"Democrats Seek Texas Redistricting Probe"

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House Democratic leader wants an independent inquiry into the Justice Department's decision to approve a Texas redistricting plan that staff lawyers concluded diluted minority voting rights.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the decision by senior officials to ignore the staff lawyers' conclusions - contained in a 73-page memo made public Friday - was political.

"There must be an independent inquiry into the contemptible politicization of the Justice Department to rubberstamp Congressman Tom DeLay's illegal redistricting scheme in Texas," Pelosi said.

The plan was pushed through the state legislature by DeLay, R-Texas, to help elect more Republicans to the House when he was the chamber's GOP leader. It was approved in time for the 2004 elections.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20051204/D8E973OOF.html