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UTUSN

(70,686 posts)
Sat Mar 11, 2017, 01:19 PM Mar 2017

Well of course: TX Repukes illegally gerrymandered to suppress miniorities' votes. 3 federal judges

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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-election-idUSKBN16I0M4?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews
[font size=5]Texas lawmakers illegally drew three voting districts on racial lines, court rules[/font]

By Jim Forsyth | SAN ANTONIO

SAN ANTONIO Texas lawmakers drew up three U.S. congressional districts to undermine the influence of Hispanic voters, a divided panel of three federal judges ruled, in the latest development in a years-long battle over gerrymandering.

In the decision announced late on Friday, U.S. District Judges Xavier Rodriguez and Orlando Garcia in San Antonio found that the districts' shapes diluted minority voters' power, either by splitting communities into different districts or concentrating minorities in a single area to limit their sway.

"When done to minimize Hispanic electoral opportunity, it bears the mark of intentional discrimination," wrote Rodriguez and Garcia, who were appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush and former Democratic President Bill Clinton, respectively.

The third judge (appointed by Reagan) on the panel, 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jerry Smith, dissented.

It was not clear whether Texas would appeal the ruling. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton did not immediately comment on Saturday.

The three districts found unlawful are currently represented by two Republicans and one Democrat. ....

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Well of course: TX Repukes illegally gerrymandered to suppress miniorities' votes. 3 federal judges (Original Post) UTUSN Mar 2017 OP
We'd better savor these moments while we can UTUSN Mar 2017 #1
DRUMPF makes W. Shrub look (almost) good. UTUSN Mar 2017 #4
BEGALA: "Texas is not a Red state. It is a non-voting state." UTUSN Mar 2017 #5
This opinion only deals with US Congressional races Gothmog Mar 2017 #7
Honestly, they've been doing this in the South since the 1960's. Gerrymandering has always had a DemocraticSocialist8 Mar 2017 #2
K&R ismnotwasm Mar 2017 #3
For this thread Gothmog Mar 2017 #6
See! I've been telling everyone I know Texas is purple! suppression & gerrymandering keep it red!!! uponit7771 Mar 2017 #8

UTUSN

(70,686 posts)
5. BEGALA: "Texas is not a Red state. It is a non-voting state."
Sat Mar 11, 2017, 02:55 PM
Mar 2017

What the Black Civil Rights activists and LBJ knew was that *voting* is the main chance. In Texas, the Hispanic constituency doesn't vote in the proportional maximum that it could, even - *EVEN* - when its self-interest is blatantly at risk.

The upshot of this is the deepest irony: Wingnuts DON'T NEED to voter-suppress (because of the non-voting). Wingnuts have a strain in their DNA of the Salem witch-hunting hysteria and paranoia and over-reaching.

Gothmog

(145,176 posts)
7. This opinion only deals with US Congressional races
Sat Mar 11, 2017, 09:37 PM
Mar 2017

The court spent 600+ pages just on the US Congressional races. The court will be issuing a separate opinion on the state house races.

2. Honestly, they've been doing this in the South since the 1960's. Gerrymandering has always had a
Sat Mar 11, 2017, 01:39 PM
Mar 2017

racial agenda behind it

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