Burnt Orange Report

Full Statement by Sen. Ratliff

By Byron LaMasters

Sen. Bill Ratliff (R-Mount Pleasant) made the following statement yesterday upon joining 10 Senate Democrats in opposing redistricting.

"I have today advised Lt. Gov. Dewhurst that I am in possession of a statement signed by 10 members of the Texas Senate stating their unalterable opposition to any motion to bring a congressional redistricting bill to the Senate floor. I have advised the Lt. Gov. that I am adding my name to that statement.

"The Senate has now completed hearings across the state on this subject. Chairman Robert Duncan and the members of his committee have reported to the members of the Senate that the overwhelming majority of citizens appearing at these statewide hearings are opposed to such redistricting, including many local activist Republicans and locally elected Republican officials.

"It is clear that those who are leading this effort apparently have no knowledge of, or regard for, the representative balance between the urban/agricultural community. The maps produced so far have indicated a total lack of concern for the communities of interest in rural Texas.

"The current congressional lines produce 20 Republican seats, 19 of which have a Republican strength of at least 55%. The majority of the Senate members, in both parties, have indicated to me that the costs associated with this effort are not justified by the marginal gains to the Republican congressional delegation.

"Moreover, most members of the Senate fear that the costs of this effort are far more serious than the mere financial cost of the litigation which is sure to follow. The costs anticipated by these members are associated with the level of animosity and distrust among members of the Senate which will result from such a vitriolic battle.

"We, in the Senate, pride ourselves in being able to work in a bipartisan manner for the people of Texas-- the same bipartisan spirit which President George W. Bush nurtured so vigorously and of which he was so proud when he was Governor. I will not be part of the destruction of that spirit for the sake of a theoretical marginal partisan gain in the Texas congressional delegation."