redistricting Texas

Governor Perry called the Legislature into session June 30 to redraw the state's political map so Republicans might win more congressional seats. Democrats hold a 17-15 advantage in the state's delegation under a map created by the federal courts two years ago. The governor on Tuesday said he has not ruled out calling lawmakers back a second time if they are not done. But, he added, "I still think there is a lot of time left in this session to address the work that's in front of us." The special session, by law, will end July 29, but the governor can call lawmakers into special session repeatedly. A Senate majority has pronounced a map passed by the House as dead on arrival because it split too many communities. The Senate ran into its own quagmire Monday when Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant, joined 10 Democrats in opposing even debating a new map. Just a couple of months ago, redistricting was put off by the famous flight of Texas Democrats to Ardmore, Oklahoma to forestall the vote.