Will Governor Call Another Special Session for Redistricting Congressional Maps?

SAN ANGELO, TX -- State Representative Drew Darby, (R)  San Angelo said Wednesday that the one issue that could force lawmakers back to Austin for another special legislative session is the appeals court’s decision that Texas’ Congressional Maps violated Hispanic voters rights in two congressional districts.  

Darby serves on the House Redistricting Committee and testified before the three judge panel in San Antonio last month.  At issue is Congressional Maps drawn by the legislature following the 2010 census.  

The three judge panel voted unanimously that two Congressional Districts violated the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act.  One district is in Corpus Christi and the other is in Austin.  

Darby said, “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has three days to respond to the court on behalf of the state.  He has a number of choices.  He can appeal the decision to the supreme court or let the appeals court draw new lines or ask the governor to call a special session so lawmakers can redraw the lines.  Or he could file an injunction that would not delay the 2018 elections.”

Darby says unlike state house and senate districts, U.S. Congressional districts must be exact.  They must have exactly the same amount of voters in each district. “You can have one side of the street in one district and the other side in a different district.  You can even have one house sitting next to another one in different districts.”

Darby says they have software that can quickly show the effects of shifting lines. “It’s called  the Red Apple Software System.”

The problem is the 2018 midterm elections.  Darby said maps acceptable to the court have to be in place this fall.  

In the wide ranging interview Wednesday Darby said he’s proud of what the legislature accomplished.  He filed an amendment to HB21 which kept $212 million in additional funding for the Teacher Retirement System to make health insurance and copays more affordable for retired teachers.  

Darby said he was disappointed that the legislature didn’t fix school property tax.  “The governor wanted property tax relief but we couldn’t reach consensus on how to do that.”

“I filed a bill to totally eliminate school maintenance and operations property taxes primarily to spark debate.”  Darby said. “And it has created a great deal of debate.”  

Tom Green County Commissioners this week held a public hearing on a proposed property tax rate increase. 

Darby said the legislature had plenty of time together to get the job done.  “We spent six-plus months together and we couldn’t reach consensus on some issues. I don’t think we could reach consensus in another 30 days.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott had a list of 20 priorities going into the special session including the bathroom bill and property tax reform.  Neither issue was passed.