Burnt Orange Report

More Republican Senate Defections?

By Byron LaMasters

The Quorum Report suggests that there's more than one or two Senate Republicans upset with redistricting. There may be a full-scale revolt going on over there. They report that 24 Senators are opposed to ending the two thirds rule, and that there are three "back-up" Republicans that would get on board if necessary to block debate of redistricting on the senate floor:

Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen) claimed five Republican senators were hostile to new congressional lines being drawn and that three of the five were on call as "back-up" to the 11 senators that signed a statement outlining their "unalterable opposition" to the measure.

"We're hunkered down," Hinojosa said. "In addition to the 11 votes we need to keep redistricting from the Senate floor, there are five other Republicans opposed to the measure and three of these will sign the letter if need be. We're solid."

Meanwhile, the Senate Jurisprudence Committee continues to meet. There's a chance that the committee will vote on redistricting today, and given the above information, there's a chance that redistricting may be voted down in committee. The Senate Jurisprudence Committee has seven members, four Republicans and three Democrats. Democratic Sens. Mario Gallegos, Eddie Lucio and Royce West are on the record in opposition to redistricting. They were among the eleven Senators to sign the letter stating their "unalterable opposition" to redistricting. Of the Republicans on the committee, only Sens. Teel Bivins and Chris Harris seem fully supportive of redistricting. Sens. Kip Averitt and Robert Duncan have both expressed reservations about redistricting. Kip Averitt will vote against a plan that divides Waco, and Robert Duncan might vote against a plan that seriously alters the district in west Texas. It'll be interesting to watch.

Updates: The San Antonio Express-News reports that undecided Democratic Sen. Frank Madla is now opposed to redistricting:

Madla, who for months has said he was undecided on the issue and was praying daily for guidance, said late Monday that he now opposes redistricting.

"Anybody with input from the district that is running 99 percent opposed, there is only one way you can vote," Madla noted.