Department of Justice officials responded to a letter Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sent them this week, calling on the department to stop delaying approval of the original legislative and congressional maps drawn by the Republican-led legislature earlier this year.
“The Department of Justice is committed to resolving this redistricting case ... as quickly and cooperatively as the circumstances permit,” Thomas E. Perez, head of the civil rights division, wrote in a response. “However, to be clear, the state of Texas bears the responsibility for any delays in the preclearance process – by waiting until the end of its legislative session and even into a special session before passing its redistricting plans, by further delay after passage in seeking preclearance and by inexplicable litigation decisions that have slowed the resolution of this matter.”
Perez said in the letter that the department is waiting to see what the U.S. Supreme Court does with requests before them to block the court-drawn maps. Once the court rules, the justice department is “prepared to proceed,” Perez wrote.
-- Anna M. Tinsley
There is some truth to the DOJ allegation that Texas House drug its feet in getting the redistricting done. Another reason to Oust Joe Strauss! With a supermajority in the House this session it is absolutely unacceptable - the level of boon doogle and stalling that the Speaker perpetrated on Texans - the mop up continues ....
Nonetheless - DOJ should end their tyranny of Texans. The map they drew violates the 1961 court imposed mandate of not drawing district lines based on racial demographics - that is exactly what the 'court' just did! Drawing Hispanic or Black districts. What happened to King's dream everyone being Americans? not hyphenated americans! Wake up people!
Posted by: Baker | December 02, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Thomas E. Perez pretty well stated the obvious on Greg Abbott's repeated interference in the process. Everything stated was in fact true and valid, and Abbott should have consulted with those in the know on the proper proceedings in this matter. It seems like Abbott will stop at nothing to shut down any new representation by the minorities in Texas. But, this is exactly what happens in a one party state.
Posted by: Rudy Gonzales | December 06, 2011 at 01:45 PM