Lege passes final congressional redistricting bill & map; lawsuits are flying

Update 4:55pm: Texas Tribune | Lawmakers move to limit public scrutiny of Perry travel – Just as Gov. Rick Perry steps out on the national stage in a possible run for president, lawmakers back home are moving to limit public scrutiny of what taxpayers are being charged to protect the governor when he's out on the road . . . Spending on (Perry's DPS) protective detail will probably increase dramatically if Perry starts traveling to early nominating states, such as Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, in a White House bid. When former Texas Gov. George W. Bush began running for president, state security costs skyrocketed, shooting past $1.8 million in 1999 — more than a sixfold increase from the previous year.

Note: Hays County remains split into three congressional districts and Travis County is split four ways under the final bill and map passed this week by the Legislature in special session. A flurry of lawsuits have been filed in federal and state district court seeking to redraw the map. (See an interactive 'before and after' map at the Tribune link below.)

Hays County Commissioners Court and other local government entities have been largely silent, or have taken no position publicly, on the effects a three-way congressional split might have on the county.

Meanwhile, a Hays County redistricting committee is moving rather slowly in drawing new commissioner, JP and voting precinct boundaries to adjust for substantial population growth in the county between 2000 and 2010. The county's redistricting plan must pass a federal Voting Rights Act review. Thus far, no public meetings have been scheduled for public input. There are 4 members on the redistricting committee: Commissioners Conley and Ingalsbe, the chair of the local Republican Party and a representative from the local Democratic Party.

Texas Tribune June 28 2011 – SB 4, the Legislature's attempt at redrawing congressional lines to make room for four new districts, has made its way through the House and Senate. It's now with Gov. Rick Perry, who can sign the bill, veto it or let it rest on his desk to become law on its own. No matter his decision, however, the issue is likely to end up before the U.S. Department of Justice and in federal court.

KSAT San Antonio 6/10/11 – The League of United Latin American Citizens filed a lawsuit against the State of Texas Friday challenging the way state lawmakers are re-drawing maps that determine congressional districts. Luis Vera, LULAC's national general counsel, said state Republicans are relying on bad census numbers and are violating the Voting Rights Act.LULAC filed its legal challenge in the U.S. District Court's Western District of Texas. The suit alleges the state is trying to take away votes from Latinos.

Houston Chronicle 5/31/11 – Congressman Gene Green, D-Houston, and three Democratic House members from Texas who represent large Hispanic populations – Reps. Charlie Gonzalez of San Antonio, Silvestre Reyes of El Paso and Lloyd Doggett of Austin, have filed suit in federal and state courts in Austin seeking court-ordered creation of two Hispanic congressional districts in Harris County with more than 60 percent Hispanic population.

Statesman 5/24/11 – Travis County commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize County Attorney David Escamilla to file a lawsuit over the state's redistricting efforts. County officials are concerned about current plans to split Travis County into four U.S. congressional districts, Escamilla said. "We want to be in a position to counter those efforts."