Forgive me if today's posts seem rather Texas-centric - there was a lot of good stuff coming out of the Lonestar State's newspapers today!  Also, I'm from Texas, and no one's stopping me.

From Dave McNeely of the Midland Reporter-Telegram, an excellent review of the redistricting mess Texas made headlines with, and also the potential for a bipartisan redistricting commission.

The article spells out the obstacles, but it does seem like there's hope that Wentworth and his supportive colleagues (yes, there are a bunch of them) may eventually get their way.  Here's hoping they do!

John Kelso, popular columnist at the Austin American-Statesman, has a piece today that absolutely rips to shreds plans in the Texas statehouse to implement voter ID restrictions.  A taste:

Now go read the rest.

Alliteration aside, there's a turf war brewing in Texas, and industry PAC contributions have placed lawmakers smack in the middle of it.

That's the gist of the situation - now here's the interesting part.  That $1.7 million in the last ten weeks is five times more than what was spent in the entire previous year.  And the recipients were of that money should come as no shock - just about everyone in a position of influence.

It's an interesting article that breaks down the issue and the law in question.  A list of the top campaign contribution recipients from the wholesalers follows after the jump.

Democrats picked up a 30th House seat this week, and once again, it's all Tom DeLay's fault.  This time, though, it's more than just his long list of scandals dragging down the Republican Party.  This time, his direct actions may have cost the GOP the seat.

On Tuesday, former Representative Ciro Rodriguez (who'd lost his seat due to DeLay's mid-decade redistricting) narrowly beat incumbent Rep. Henry Bonilla in a runoff election, largely due to the redistricting that changed voter demographics.  It was an unexpected win, and it certainly adds insult to injury to the disgraced DeLay.

To those in the reform community who were dismayed to see the redistricting process being abused for partisan gain at the expense of fairness to voters, this is the cherry on top of the DeLay disgrace sundae.

On Friday, a three-judge federal panel redrew several Texas Congressional districts after a long partisan battle with Election Day implications.  The Supreme Court declared the existing map, redrawn in 2003 by the Republican controlled state Legislature, unconstitutional because it significantly weakened Hispanic strength in the 23rd Congressional District - a violation of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

The expansive 23rd District currently stretches from El Paso County in the West to parts of Webb and Bexar (San Antonio) Counties in the South.  Under the new plans, Webb County has been moved entirely into the 28th District, and Kerr, Kendall, Bandera, and Real Counties have been added to the 21st District.

Additionally, several solidly Hispanic neighborhoods in southern Bexar Country have been added to the 23rd District.  Hispanics will constitute 61 percent of the voting-age population in the revised 23rd District, a 10 percent increase from the 2004 figure.

For more information about Friday's decision, check out the panel's ruling and the new map (pdf).

Gather 'round for your weekly one-stop-shop for state news and happenings.  

• Voters in Arizona this November will be entered in a lottery to win $1 million dollars.
  
• Matt Brix, the Executive Director of Common Cause New Mexico, appeared on the Al Franken Show to talk about public financing.
  
• The debate over voter IDs in Georgia continues.
  
• Also, a voter ID law in Missouri is being challenged.
  
• There are about a gajillion redistricting proposals being offered in Texas right now, each with their own agenda.  How many of them are aimed at protecting the voting rights of minorities?  Just a handful.
  
• Ralph Reed lost his primary for Georgia Lt. Governor after his ties with Jack Abramoff became front-page fodder.
  
• The ACLU is challenging Connecticut's public financing law in court.
  
• Common Cause Pennsylvania has asked for an official inquiry into suspicious campaign spending by State Speaker of the House John Perzel.
  
• The latest campaign finance data from New York has been released.
  
• Ethics reform in North Carolina is looking good.  The State Senate passed overhauling legislation this week; there are differences with the State House, but this is one state that is making great progress towards real reform.

No one saw this coming, right?

There are proposed plans from Republicans, Democrats, interest groups, minority coalitions, Representatives, Attorney Generals, and who knows who else will decide to get in on the fun, as politicians try to draw their opponents out of districts and insure their own reelection and minority groups try to protect their own interests.  A three-judge panel will hear arguments on August 3.  We'll keep you updated on how this mess gets sorted out.

The Supreme Court's decision to uphold Tom Delay's gerrymandering of Texas is a window of opportunity for reformers.  

The case, League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, has brought exposure that money simply can't buy.  Nonpartisan organizations finally have an audience for their message that self-serving redistricting plans inflict irreparable harm on our political system.  An effective national campaign could ignite a backlash of legislation from states that want to avoid the bitter partisan battle witnessed in Texas.

There is recent precedent for a state backlash.  Last year, in Kelo v. City of New London, the Supreme Court declared that local governments had the right to seize private property for economic development.  The national outcry resulted in state legislatures specifically banning the use of eminent domain for economic purposes.