[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11449]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 53 DEMOCRATS OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Chocola). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today in the 
U.S. House and say congratulations to our heroes, our 53 heroes in 
Texas of the Texas House of Representatives. They are fighting for some 
basic principles, the heroes of democracy. Texas Democrats have used 
the last tool provided to them. For so many of them from the Texas 
House to agree to walk out demonstrates the depth of their commitment, 
the strength of their purpose, and the nobility of their cause.
  This is not just about a map. It is about a democratic process, 
participation in the rights of the minority to have a voice in the 
process. Republicans in Texas need to learn that having power and using 
it wisely are not the same thing. Rather than waste time on divisive 
redistricting schemes pushed on by the Washington Republican leaders, 
Texas Republicans should have focused on the truly pressing business 
before the Texas legislature and before Texas, such as issues of 
balancing the budget, such as the issues of encouraging economic 
growth, such as the issues of enhancing educational opportunities both 
for public education and higher education, as well as providing health 
care access to our children and families.
  As Texans, we recognize that we have the largest number of uninsured 
in Texas, and we recognize that we need more resources. We ought to be 
trying to solve those issues rather than doing what is being done now.
  So I want to take this time to congratulate them in putting their 
personal interests aside. These 53 Democrats, members of the Texas 
House of Representatives have said enough is enough. ``Basta.'' United, 
these brave Texans have hailed and created and made move and have 
inspired all of Texas to do the right thing.
  I want to take this time to recognize the newspapers and the 
editorials that have been in their favor. When we look at the Houston 
Chronicle editorials, the San Antonio editorials. And if I can, I will 
read the San Antonio Express-News editorial which summed it up when 
they said `` . . . the House has pushed through a variety of measures 
that have more to do with the enthusiasms of ideologues than with the 
good of the State. A totally inadequate State budget is the most 
egregious sin.''
  ``Coming in a close second is the blatantly partisan congressional 
redistricting scheme . . . concocted up by White House political guru 
Karl Rove and U.S. Representative Tom DeLay . . . '' the Express-News 
indicated.
  Taking these cues from the majority leader's office here in 
Washington, Texas Republicans want to deny Texas voters the choice they 
have to make. They want to impose a congressional quota. Texas voters 
said no, and now Texas Democrats say no.
  If we look at my particular district, I am given close to 20 or 30 
additional counties. At the present time I represent San Antonio and 
south; and if we look at the map, my district is completely wiped out 
and given to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa), who will go now 
all the way to Austin. My district from San Antonio was stretched 600 
miles to the borders with New Mexico and takes 40-something thousand 
people from El Paso. If we look all the way from San Antonio all the 
way down to El Paso, over 600 miles. So when we look at those types of 
interests and we look at what has been done by the maps, we know that 
they are maps basically for purposes of grabbing power.
  The law says that the States have an obligation to draw their lines 
during the process of the census. If the State chooses to do this now, 
it will set a very negative precedent. It will basically say that 
anytime someone else takes power and decides to gerrymander or knock 
off someone because they choose to get angry with them, they can redraw 
the lines at any time during the decade and come back and be able to 
change their lines so that someone else will not win.
  I also want to take this opportunity to thank the members, especially 
those that I am really proud of, especially Representative Carlos 
Uresti, Representative Puente, Representative Guillen, and 
Representative Villarreal, and Representative Kino Flores.

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