Concerned Citizens

Paul Burka, Texas Monthly political columnist, recently wrote about proposed legislation by Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) to change the way congressional districts are drawn every decade. Instead of having the Texas legislature draw the districts through committee, SB 315, proposes the creation of a bipartisan Texas Congressional Redistricting Commission separate from the legislature.  Rep. Mark Strama (D-Austin) has submitted a similar bill, HB 104, in the House. 

Having such a commission would hopefully put an end to the partisan wrangling that occurs every ten years after a census when Texas must redraw its districts to match population changes or in years when someone like Tom DeLay decides to change the rules. Recently this has become especially important due to population increases within Texas. In 2011 Texas is expected to pick up two more seats in the House of Representatives giving Texas 34 representatives and, more importantly 36 electoral votes.

The commission would be composed of two members selected by the majority and minority parties of both the House and Senate for a total of eight members. A ninth non-voting member would be appointed by the eight members and serve as a presiding officer. The commission would draw district lines for the states congressional districts with final submission to the governor, secretary of state and presiding officers of the House and Senate. Any plan would require five votes for adoption, requiring some aspect of bipartisan consensus to complete the task.

Should the commission be unable to reach consensus in a prescribed timeframe the chief justice of the Supreme Court would appoint another member to help move to consensus. The bill also provides for challenges to the plan through the Supreme Court. In Strama’s version of the plan there would also be public hearings in four geographic areas of the state to provide for public input.

The bill is a welcome change in the redistricting process and could possible result in the creation of districts that actually represent the constituency of Texas. I spoke with Rep. Strama on Monday about his bill, asking if there would be any opportunity for additional tinkering to occur by the legislature. He said it would be much like a BRAC recommendation in an all or nothing proposal.

This solution has been offered up before by Sen. Wentworth and passed the Senate only to be killed in the Texas House by then Speaker Craddick. It is hopeful that Speaker Straus will give this legislation a hearing on the floor of the House. Straus’ approach doesn’t have the same dictatorial process that Craddick had during his time as speaker.

A hearing has already been held in the Senate State Affairs committee with only two dissenters from the Republican Party of Texas, one who spoke without authority for the body he represented. In the House the bill has been referred to Redistricting with no date yet for a hearing.