Friday's Internet Edition, August 29, 2008.
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Congressman Chet Edwards met Tuesday with area officials to discuss the plan for redistricting Texas. Edwards called the plan a “Mother’s Day Massacre.”
– Photo by KRISTAN HALL |
News editor - Area officials, upset over the new plan for redistricting which divides both Killeen and Fort Hood into two separate congressional districts, met with Congressman Chet Edwards on Tuesday.
The map, which Edwards calls the “Mother’s Day Massacre,” carves out most of Killeen, lumping the city with Coryell County and Fort Hood’s land and training area into the 21st Congressional District.
Republican Lamar Smith of San Antonio now represents District 21 and if the map were voted into reality, Lamar would become the area’s new representative.
After several days of testimony and discussion, including an all-night meeting over the weekend, the committee adopted a map on Mother’s Day, May 11, and was scheduled for a vote the next day.
Edwards labeled the map as “unfair and bizarre,” adding that the map was adopted during secret, last minute meetings on Mother’s Day.
“The map does not pass the common sense test,” said Edwards. “If it cannot stand the scrutiny of the public in the light of day, it does not deserve to be adopted.”
“It’s an insult to the citizens of Fort Hood and Central Texas,” he said. The process was kept secret in hopes it could pass before Central Texas leaders could learn about it, he said.
Because the Central Texas area would lose Edwards, Dr. Glenn Acker, superintendent of the Copperas Cove Independent School District, disagrees with the current map for redistricting.
“Congressman Edwards has been our representative in Washington, D.C. for almost 13 years, and has fought effectively to protect our schools and communities by keeping Fort Hood strong,” he said.
Acker said this has been accomplished in a very non-partisan way. “Because of his position in the House Democratic leadership, his seniority, and his good working relationship with both the Republican and Democratic members in Washington, and his position on the Appropriations Committee, he has been able to keep Fort Hood as the only two-division post in the nation,” he said.
Acker also mentioned the Edwards’ recent battle to keep Impact Aid funding intact. “Because of the impaction related to Fort Hood, the CCISD is heavily dependent upon Impact Aid,” he said.
“Because of effort of Representative Chet Edwards on our behalf, funds have been increased, and payments issued in a timelier manner. Last year, approximately 20% of our entire school district’s operating budget came from Impact Aid.”
Acker said the map approved by the 78th Texas Legislature House Redistricting Committee removes McLennan County and Chet Edwards from the CCISD. “This new redistricting proposal could potentially cause a major setback for our district and the effective representation that we have come to know over the past 13 years,” he said.
Acker also questions the redistricting process itself. “In the 2001 redistricting process, evidence and public testimony was heard in lengthy, open legislative and judicial processes before the three judge panel issued its order and put in place, by their finding of law, a legal plan that complies with the Voting Rights Act,” he said, adding, “Any process with less public input is shortchanging the public.”
Acker said that, at this point in the legislative session, there is not sufficient time to provide for public comment, or to provide citizens with meaningful access to the process.
“Every part of this process has been rushed,” he said.
Acker believes the current congressional map is fair to both political parties as it allows incumbents of both parties to retain the traditional base of their districts. “Besides, neither the Texas Constitution nor any statue requires the legislature to act on congressional redistricting again this decade, and no Court has ordered us to do so,” he said.
“A recent decision of the Texas Attorney General has unequivocally made clear that congressional redistricting this year is neither required nor mandated,” he said.
Acker said, “At a time when our legislators need to be working together to make important decisions regarding our state, this type of legislation can only serve to cause a greater division between the political parties, and possibly jeopardizing important issues that are left unresolved”
The matter is currently unresolved due to the Democratic walkout on Monday. Edwards applauded their actions, saying, “Those who broke the quorum exercised their courage of conviction.
See maps related to redistricting on Page 10A.