Texas House set to take vote on divisive Republican redistricting proposal
Controversial Redistricting Plan Advances in Texas
A controversial redistricting plan is set to be considered by the Texas state House on Wednesday, following weeks of delays and protests from Democrats. The plan, which is expected to increase the number of GOP congressional seats, has been pushed by President Donald Trump and is being criticized as blatant gerrymandering by Democrats.
The redistricting plan, if passed, may have Austin residents sharing a district with rural Texans who are 300 miles away. This fact has raised concerns among Democrats, who argue that the plan is a political maneuver designed to dilute the voting power of urban areas.
The move to consider the redistricting plan comes after Democrats decried the unorthodox mid-decade redistricting as a political maneuver. In response, Texas House Democrats have vowed to resist the redistricting bill and fight it on the floor.
The bill passed out of committee on Monday during the second special session, and the Texas Senate is expected to pick up the redistricting bill once it passes the House. However, several Texas House Democrats refused law enforcement escorts and stayed overnight in the state Capitol in solidarity with Rep. Nicole Collier, who refused to sign a "permission slip" that would allow her to leave the Texas State Capitol escorted by police.
The special session was delayed due to Democrats leaving the state to avoid a quorum, despite threats of arrest from Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders. The Texas state Capitol was evacuated due to a social media threat on Tuesday night, but some Democrats have since returned to the statehouse, continuing to speak out against the controversial redistricting.
The redistricting plan is still being met with protests from Democrats, who argue that it is a blatant attempt at gerrymandering. If passed, the plan would likely face legal challenges, as it is expected to be challenged in court on the grounds of racial and partisan gerrymandering.
As the debate over the redistricting plan continues, it remains to be seen whether it will ultimately pass and reshape the political landscape of Texas for the next decade.
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