DeLay, Republicans Face Political Setback on Texas Voting Map

By Laura Litvan and Greg Stohr
Dec. 13 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to review congressional redistricting in Texas is a new setback for Republicans and Representative Tom DeLay, who lost his House leadership post over the issue and now finds the plan he engineered in legal jeopardy.

The high court may force a redrafting of the redistricting map that helped Republicans pick up five U.S. House seats in Texas in the 2004 elections. The decision to consider the case is a symbolic boost to Democrats in Texas and Congress, without guaranteeing them more seats as they seek to win back control of the House.

DeLay, then House majority leader, worked to elect state lawmakers who backed the change and then personally visited the Capitol in Austin to consult on where to draw the district lines. He was indicted Oct. 3 on money-laundering and conspiracy charges related to fund-raising for the Texas statehouse candidates.

``This is another blow to DeLay,'' said Amy Walter, House editor of the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan newsletter based in Washington.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=a1G4iHwLeq90

As it is the Supreme Court, they dont need to answer any or all of these questions. They may rule the redistricting illegal on one point, and remain silent on the rest. Or they may decide to rule on all points (unlikely).

1. Does the Constitution prohibit more than one redistricting per census?

2. Does the redistricting violate the Fair Voting Act by diluting the voting strength of minorities?

3. Does the redistricting violate the Fair Voting Act by using data that was out of date at the time? (data from 2000 census used in 2003/4)

4. Does the Constitution prohibit redistricting that is politically motivated? (Delay and others have admitted that there was political motivation)

Everything he does is illegal.

Thanks for the legal information. It seems clear that laws were broken when looking at #4. Does the Constitution prohibit redistricting that is politically motivated? (Delay and others have admitted that there was political motivation)

Democrats can bend over and kiss their asses good bye. After Bush* vs Gore I am pretty sure of the outcome of this case also...Bye Bye Miss American Pie drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry.

I posted this link yesterday. It reviews some of the cases that have been already decided by the SCOTUS.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/23/magazine/23idea.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=6f3140a38585415a&ex=1287720000&adxnnl=0&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1134401531-mNTHPlcOAzKBMp2BF5dhOg