Still more chickens coming home to roost
Supreme Court Weighs Texas Redistricting
By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer
Texas Republicans were guilty of a naked political power grab when they redrew congressional boundaries, the Supreme Court was told Wednesday in a case that could have a major impact on elections.
Justices are considering whether the Republican-friendly map promoted by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is unconstitutional.
The 2003 boundaries approved by the GOP-controlled state Legislature helped the Republican Party pick up six seats in Congress, but it also led to serious woes for DeLay. He was charged in state court with money laundering in connection with fundraising for legislative candidates. He gave up his leadership post and is fighting the charges.
"The only reason it was considered, let alone passed, was to help one political party get more seats than another," the justices were told by Paul M. Smith, a Washington lawyer who represents the League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the groups challenging the plan.
"That's a surprise," Justice Antonin Scalia joked. "Legislatures redraw the map all the time for political reasons."
Ah Scalia, you're such a treasure.
I believe though, it's a good chance this could get overturned, even with the Cabal in charge. This was so nakedly deceitful and obvious, you have to think that even the most partisan judges -- and we've got the most partisan judges on this bench -- have to see it for what it is and send DeLay a going-the-hell-away gift.