Justice Staff Saw Texas Districting As Illegal

[sonias]

Discussion story on the DU home page.
Thread here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1960516

More rope to hang DeLay with, I hope.

Sonia

[babylonsister]

1. Plan approved DESPITE objection of Justice Department!

I so hope this is grounds for more lawsuits!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/02/MNGQUG1E2G1.DTL&feed=rss.news

U.S. memo opposed political map in Texas
Plan was approved despite objection of Justice Dept. staff

snip//
The 73-page memo, dated Dec. 12, 2003, has been kept under tight wraps for two years. It was provided to the Post by a person connected to the case who is critical of the redistricting map. Such recommendation memos, while not binding, historically carry great weight within the Justice Department.

Under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Texas and other states with a history of discriminatory elections are required to submit changes in their voting systems or election maps for approval by the Justice Department.

The Texas memo also provides new insight into the highly politicized environment surrounding that state's redistricting fight. DeLay and his allies participated intensively as they pushed to redraw Texas' congressional boundaries and strengthen GOP control of the House.

An aide to DeLay, James W. Ellis, is cited in the Justice Department memo as pushing for the redistricting plan despite the risk that it would not receive "pre-clearance," or approval, from the department. Ellis and other DeLay aides successfully forced the adoption of their plan over two other versions passed by Texas legislators that would not have raised as many concerns about voting rights discrimination, the memo said.
snip//

[sonias]

2. I'm sure the lawyers are meeting as we write today

babylonsister, there is no doubt that lawyers for the Democrats in Texas are all over this right now. Let the appeals to the appeals begin once again. I'd say this was major new evidence to use in an appeal.

The timing I think will also help in the 2006 congressional races. We can keep hammering the point that the re-districting was illegal and it was the bu$h, Rove, DeLay and repuke leadership that conspired in all of this. First they use illegal corporate money to take over the Texas Legislature and then they overrule the career staffers at DOJ to fix the results.

:hi: babylonsister!


Sonia

[babylonsister]

3. The level of corruption knows no bounds!

I'm glad ze papers were finally released; lawyers, do your stuff! This is really criminal, and I'm not just sayin' that.
Hi, sonias! :hi: I wish I was more organized because I'd be making lists of all the corrupt stuff this admin is involved in. Pagewise, I'm sure I'd be in the double digits by now, and that's single-spaced!

[sonias]

4. Texas Democrats furious over Department of Justice redistricting memo

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stories/12/3redistrict.html
Texas Democrats furious over Department of Justice redistricting memo
(snip)
Democrats said the memo vindicates their position that the redrawn map, championed by U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, violated the Voting Rights Act by packing black and Hispanic voters into gerrymandered districts to dilute their influence in other districts.

They also said the memo shows the Department of Justice's decision was politically motivated.

"It's real troubling," said state Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. "These folks have no respect for the law if it gets in the way of their political agenda.

"We want to lecture people in Iraq on how to form a democracy, but it sure is hard to do that if you don't respect it here at home," Dunnam said.
(/snip)

Very good point Representative Dunnam, they don't respect democracy at home.

Sonia

[tammywammy]

5. Sweeeet!

"We want to lecture people in Iraq on how to form a democracy, but it sure is hard to do that if you don't respect it here at home," Dunnam said.

:yourock: