By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Ausitn, TX – Today's ruling in federal district court in Laredo means "we can see a light at the end of the tunnel on redistricting," said Lt. Gov David Dewhurst.
On the flip side, the 'Texas 11' contend today's actions "validate our case has merit."
Dewhurst said he is pleased with the ruling by U.S. District Judge George Kazen that will send the redistricting issue to a three-judge panel from the Fifth Circuit Court. He called the ruling "an important step in ending the impasse on redistricting."
The absent Democrats say the court "has affirmed that the actions of the Republican leadership during the last month warrant close scrutiny" and say they are "confident" they will prevail.
Dewhurst admitted that as late as last night, there was discussion about asking the governor to call a special session had some of the Senate Democrats in New Mexico showed up in Laredo for the hearing on their lawsuit motions. That would have allowed Dewhurst to send officers of the Senate to arrest the Democrats in Texas and return them to Austin.
The Democrats got wind of the discussions and changed their plans, staying in New Mexico.
"We did discuss last night whether we should consider the possibility of arresting the Democrats when they came into Laredo and if we'd make the recommendation to the governor," said Dewhurst. "We decided not to go forward with that."
He said no one other than attorneys with the Attorney General's Office and an attorney from his own office left for Laredo.
"We felt very comfortable that our legal position in court today was strong."
Dewhurst said it is clear that Judge Kazen was "extremely skeptical about virtually all of the Democratic senators' claims." He noted that the judge called some of the claims "bizarre."
"His refusal to grant the relief asked for by the Democrats and instead referring it to a three-judge panel will hopefully move this so this matter can be taken care of in the next week or two," said Dewhurst. He indicated he is expecting an "expedited decision."
One item on the table is that the judge suggested the GOP leadership give the Democrats at least 72 hours notice before another special session is called. Dewhurst said he would only be in favor of that notification if there were a guarantee that the Democrats would show up after that 72-hour period.
The Democrats said the move is designed to "allow us to go home to Texas, live our lives, and serve our constituents in person." They encouraged Perry to comply with the judge's request.
Dewhurst said he has laid out what he thinks is "a very workable compromise that involved a fair redistricting map" with "global settlement" for lawsuits, fines and other issues. He also added that he can allay fears of the Democrats that the final version of a redistricting bill after it comes back from the House and from a conference committee might be something completely different than one passed in the Senate.
"I have a number of ways to make sure all our colleagues are comfortable the map we agree on in the Senate will be the map that will come out of the Legislature," he said.
But the Democrats insist the current map does not need to be changed. "The plan has passed muster with the U.S. Supreme Court," they said, "and Gov. Rick Perry and then-Attorney General John Cornyn defended it."
"What I'm interested in is a commitment from our senators to come back to work," said Dewhurst.
And what the Democrats are interested in, they say, is that Perry "end this corrupt process now, sparing the people of Texas more needless, partisan bloodletting."