[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12125]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                INSIGHTFUL EXPLANATION OF TEXAS POLITICS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize a member of the 
Texas House from my district and my hometown of Denton, Texas.
  Representative Myra Crownover has written what I consider to be the 
most insightful remarks regarding the recent lack of a quorum in the 
Texas House. Her remarks were written and carried in the Denton Record-
Chronicle last weekend. I ask Members to listen to Representative 
Crownover in her own words.
  ``I would like to take this opportunity to explain what is at the 
heart of the battle between Texas House Republicans and Democrats.
  ``Though Republicans and Democrats debate and disagree on a number of 
issues each and every session, none is as arduous or contention as 
redistricting. While most legislation concerns issues that cross party 
lines, such as children, health care or education, redistricting is 
simply about politics and elections. There is no bipartisan 
redistricting. There never has been, there never will be. It is the 
nature of the beast.
  ``Although the Legislature addressed congressional redistricting 2 
years ago in the last legislative session, lawmakers could not agree on 
new lines, so a panel of three Federal judges did, and their map led to 
a 17-15 advantage for the Democrats. Rather than drawing a map that 
currently reflects the political landscape of Texas, the lines were 
tooled just enough to keep the map legal. There is no question that the 
current map meets the standards for redistricting spelled out in law.
  ``The argument for addressing the congressional maps this session 
rests in the fact that in the 2002 elections the GOP won every 
statewide race from the governor to the courts and took control over 
both houses of the State legislature for the first time since 
Reconstruction. Roughly 60 percent of the State voted Republican during 
the last election cycle. The Legislature now has an obligation to pass 
a map that properly reflects the demographics and voting patterns of 
Texas.
  ``As stated previously, redistricting is a painful process, but it is 
also necessary. For the party in the minority, it is a difficult but 
important debate. It has been for years. However, the minority this 
session chose to walk away from the debate and crossed a line that 
should never be crossed. The rules of the House relating to a quorum 
were created to maintain a balance, protecting both the majority and 
the minority parties. This rule has been abused and a harmful precedent 
has been set. If 51 members dislike a piece of legislation, they may 
simply walk away. No debate. No vote. No representation.
  ``There will always be a majority and a minority. We will continue to 
redistrict State and congressional maps for decades to come. Such 
emotionally charged issues are simply part of the process, and because 
of this, rules and respect for the rules are required. Without them, 
the system breaks down. Not just for the 150 Members of the Texas 
House, but for every citizen of Texas.''
  Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more.

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