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I just got an alarming email about the Texas Legislature redistricting plans. In short, the house Republicans want to Gerry-mander Austin, so no one in the US House represents the bulk of Austin. I've pasted the message below.

Despite the many budget challenges faced in this legislative session, the Texas House is revisiting congressional redistricting. An unconscionable plan, that is purported to have been drawn by Representative Tom DeLay, would rip the heart out of Travis County and end Austin's representation in Congress.

** No Austinite will ever represent a united Austin again.

** They have attempted to draw a map so that Rep. Lloyd Doggett can no longer speak for us in Washington.

DeLay's divisive Washington politics are now literally dividing Travis County:

District 10, which Rep. Doggett now represents and includes 80% of the people of Travis County, is moved by Republicans completely outside Travis County. Instead, the district would stretch from Llano to the New Mexico border. Travis is then split three ways:

(1) Rep. Lamar Smith (R) gets East and Southeast Austin, Hays and Comal Counties and part of San Antonio.

(2) Rep. Ron Paul (R) gets Pflugerville, Manor, and the Northeast of Travis County in addition to much of his current district.

(3) Rep. Henry Bonilla (R) gets the western half of Travis County, Blanco and Kendall Counties and part of San Antonio.

This plan, secret until released by the GOP late Wednesday, removes Rep. Lloyd Doggett from Travis County and ensures that Austin has no one to champion its interests.

This Tom DeLay "Life Tenure plan" ensures he will remain House Majority Leader for a decade, furthering his extremist agenda.

What can you do?

1. Commit to attending the only hearing the House will have on this plan, scheduled for Friday, May 2nd, at 2:00 pm upon final adjournment and Saturday, May 3rd at 10:00 A.M. or upon final adjournment. Both meetings are scheduled in the Capitol Extension, Room E2.036. The exact starting time of the hearing is still unclear because of the legislative schedule, but you will receive an update on Thursday or Friday with more details about the timing. You can also call the clerk for the Redistricting Committee, Jay Yates at (512) 463-9948 to find out more about the time of the committee meeting. If you can attend the hearing, please contact the Travis County Democratic Party at (512) 477-7500.

2. Representatives Elliott Naishtat, Dawnna Dukes, and Eddie Rodriguez have spoken out against this plan that hurts Travis County. If you live in a district represented by Representatives Terry Keel, Todd Baxter, or Jack Stick, call them today and tell them to speak against this plan and for Travis County's best interest.

Representative Terry Keel (512) 463-0652
Representative Todd Baxter (512) 463-0631
Representative Jack Stick (512) 463-0821


3. Call Speaker Craddick and tell him that you don't want the Legislature to waste its time on redistricting, but focus on the other important matters of this session. Urge him to drop the partisan politics engineered by Congressman Tom DeLay and to do what's right for Texans.

Speaker Tom Craddick (512) 463-1000

4. Call and email friends and alert them that the GOP is attempting to cut Rep. Doggett out of Congress and urge them to attend the hearing.