Texas Nearly Redistricted

In the end, it took the exterminator-turned-Congressman, Tom DeLay, to iron out the differences among the Texas Republicans over how best to divvy up the spoils of John Whitmire’s cowardice (Whitmire is the Texas Senator who returned to Texas and gave Republicans a quorum):

…House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) spent three days in Austin this week brokering the final shape of the plan. State GOP leaders credited DeLay with playing a key role in resolving the final issue, an intraparty dispute between Republicans over congressional districts in West Texas.

DeLay’s role in the bruising battle left Democrats embittered. “Like [Republicans] often do, they overreached,” said Rep. Jim Dunnam, chairman of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. “Tom DeLay was here for three days. Obviously, it’s pretty repulsive. This guy was elected to represent us in Washington, and he’s got nothing better to do than come down here and mess up the Texas tradition of bipartisanship.”

While Dunnam may think the Republicans have overreached, don’t look for the win in Texas, or this week’s victory in California, to slow them down much–with a firmer grip on the House, they may just decide to reach farther.

AB