Still no redistricting map in Texas

So while Texas Democrats were camped out in New Mexico, what were their Republican counterpartss doing back in Austin? Because they sure as hell weren't working on a redistricting map.

Today is the drop-dead deadline for a new map, or else Texas would have to postpone the state's primaries. Yet the GOP still has no map.

And those wacky Republicans are at each others' throats:

Senate and House negotiators swapped maps Saturday and blamed one another for their failure to agree to a deal.

Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, the House's chief negotiator, said the House made a "great offer" at 3 a.m. Saturday. The Senate countered with another offer later Saturday.

"I'm willing to keep negotiating, but this map couldn't get a majority in the House," King said of the Senate counter-proposal.

He then went home to nap.

Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, King's counterpart, said House negotiators are "obviously sleep deprived" because of their criticism of the Senate map.

How bad are things?

Republican infighting had Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, longing for a fresh exodus.

"We're just praying the Democrats will leave again, to take the heat off of us," Smithee said.

Posted October 06, 2003 11:16 AM | Comments (66)