LAT/AP: Supreme Court Largely Upholds DeLay Redistricting in Texas

[DeepModem Mom]

Court Largely Upholds Delay Redistricting in Texas
From Associated Press
7:22 AM PDT, June 28, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court today upheld most of the Texas congressional map engineered by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay but threw out part, saying some of the new boundaries failed to protect minority voting rights.

The fractured decision was a small victory for Democratic and minority groups who accused Republicans of an unconstitutional power grab in drawing boundaries that booted four Democratic incumbents out of office.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, writing for the majority, said Hispanics do not have a chance to elect a candidate of their choosing under the plan.

Republicans picked up six Texas congressional seats two years ago, and the court's ruling does not seriously threaten those gains. Lawmakers, however, will have to adjust boundary lines to address the court's concerns....

***

On a different issue, the court ruled that state legislators may draw new maps as often as they like -- not just once a decade as Texas Democrats claimed. That means Democratic and Republican state lawmakers can push through new maps anytime there is a power shift at a state capital....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-062806scotus,0,404986.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[MrModerate]

1. Time to get those redistricting rules . . .

Written into State Constitutions (to the degree they aren't already). I've never thought this was really a federal matter, except very tangentially when voting rights are compromised.

I know, I know, gerrymandering inherently compromises voting rights -- but I don't think it can be fixed at the federal level. Enlightened liberals are going to have to do it state by state, which will require courage and wisdom in short supply these days.

[Skink]

2. Another reason to vote Kinky Friedman.