Texas is a minority majority state. As of August 11, 2005, racial and ethnic minorities are in the majority.
I read in the Texas Observer that after the 2000 census, judges drew the redistricting boundaries for Texas. Soon afterward, a Republican majority was elected to the State House and they forced a partisan redistricting plan through.
The redistricting marginalized minority voters. They were effectively scuttled into a few districts, or districts with large Republican leaning majorities.
Tom Delay was the master-mind behind the redistricting, according to A Lesson in Self-Destruction, by Arnold Hamilton.
The Voting Rights Act:
In 2006 the Supreme Court of the United States upheld most of the redistricting. The case was League of United Latin American Ciizens et al. v. Perry, Governor of Texas, et al. It was decided June 28th, 2006. Some adjustments had to be made to the redistricting because of the ruling. But, the plan still marginalized the Hispanic vote.
In 1990, Republicans had received 47% of the statewide vote, the Democrats 51%. The 1990 census resulted in a 3-seat increase over the 27 seats previously allotted Texas. The Legislature drew a congressional redistricting plan favoring the Democrats. It was challenged as unconstitutional without success.
The 2000 census allowed for two additional congressional seats for Texas. The legislature, controlled by Democrats, was unable to pass a redistricting scheme. The plan would have to comply with the 1-person 1-vote requirement by the U.S. constitution. The Federal District Court tried to apply a neutral plan, 1151C. It would have resulted in a 17-15 Democratic majority.
In 2003 Republicans gained control of both houses. The Legislature enacted 1374C, which was challenged in court due to constitutional and statutory violations. The case was partially successful.
In Houston, the Hispanic population has been expanding relative to that of Anglo's. According to Wikipedia, 37 percent of the population is Hispanic or Latin.
Links of Interest:
Texas on the Potomac
Texas Observer
Demographic of Houston: Wikipedia
The New York Times
Election Law Blog
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Tea Party
"Indeed, the rightward tilt of the state's GOP electorate permitted another Tea Party insurgent to mount a respectable run without serving as a spoiler to Perry's similarly themed campaign. Debra Medina, a darling of the far right, recently made headlines for questioning the government's involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but came in with about the same 16 percent showing that polls registered prior to her gaffe. -http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100304/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1213
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
Capitol Building -Austin
State Capitol Complex:
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
Texas Employment Law
"Texas employment law does NOT prohibit workplace discrimination and/or termination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status." -Equality Texas
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
Check out my website:
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
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