The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider's poll for …s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/documents/...2011/11/28 · INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune

INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider poll for 28 November 2011

The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider's poll

for the week of November 28.




The Legislature's redistricting maps didn't pass court muster. Who's to blame?

They drew em so they get the blame.

Redistricting is no longer an inexact science. Legislators immediately know the ramifications of moving a district line two streets over or two miles over. No one to blame but themselves.

Tactical error by the AG.

Stupid gerrymandering is always illegal

There are strong feelings among many that the state's lawyers were weak in defending the maps, but the maps the court drew make so little sense that it is hard not to see partisanship in their motivations.

The state did not follow the Voting Right Act to draw the Congressional and State House.

They could have been content with a convincing majority instead of overreaching. The Pena district was the most egregious example, but certainly not the only one.

No blame.

With Obama DOJ oversight, legislators should have been extra-‐careful. They were not.

The lawyers are always at fault. Their bad advice only hurts their clients, while increasing their billing.

Doesn't matter who is in the majority-‐-‐ the Courts have the role of correcting

abuses which are the nature of the Beast.

Ample evidence was given to the ruling majority that there were serious problems with their maps.

Over reach.

Can't believe there are even options for this question. It's like asking who is responsible for Bill Buckner's error in Game 6.

It can hardly be a surprise that a map that totally ignored the growth in minority populations ran afoul of a Voting Rights Act that exists solely to protect minority populations.

That's what happens when you get greedy and you have a DOJ controlled by the D's.

Absurd judicial overreach -‐ Texans elect representatives, why can't their representatives draw their own maps?

Appears that the R majority may have been just a bit aggressive. And did anyone think an Obama Justice Dept. would bless anything from Texas?

Over-‐reach . . .

Really lame attempt at seat stealing.

Actually the RPT lawyers that convinced the legislators that their methodology was legal.


Shouldn't the courts have to prove minority voters are being harmed? Also, what is the path for a state to be removed from preclearance by DOJ? 46 years after the Voting Rights Act can anyone prove voter intimidation. I guess 95% of voters were intimidated in the 8 November election and that's why they didn't show up!

The 'leadership'-‐-‐focusing on very short-‐term gains for the Republican Party and ignoring the party's own long-‐term interests-‐-‐ overreached once again.

Democrats have done it when they were in power, now the Republicans are doing it -‐ drawing maps to solidify a majority in state politics. There's no one else to blame but the Lege itself over this fiasco.

Republican party right wing zealots.

The legislators are responsible for the map, but Abbott's handling of the case in the courts was grossly incompetent.

Don't leave staff out of the blame here.

Solomon's lawyer was pathetic. Couldn't answer a single question when asked by the Court.

And mostly the republicans

Republican members overreached. However, it could have been a calculated risk; knowing the Courts might alter the plan but helping them avoid tough decisions with Republican members.

Men will always want more than what they can have. It is in our nature. It's time to create a non-‐partisan / non-‐elected redistricting committee to deal with this issue.

Got greedy, plain and simple

The Republican Party of Texas and their allied interest groups had this worked out and delivered it. When Seliger had the Senate hearings, he didn't know what was in his bill. The Baylor law professor who was helping the Senate committee didn't know what was in the bill upon questioning. Now this isn't amazing but that is the way it came down

An 'all the above' selection would have been nice.

It is a combination of things.

Abbott has made a mess of this!

Should the Texas Legislature redraw the congressional and legislative district maps to replace maps drawn and approved by the courts?

The leg has already wasted a ton of taxpayer money by doodling out maps that were doomed to fail. Why do it

again for the same outcome. Let's save the drama for jersey shore.


But with a certain Governor on the campaign trail I doubt that will happen.

They should, but they won't.

There is no need for the Lege to redraw maps. The maps already adopted by the Legislature are still undergoing DC and San Antonio review. The court drawn maps are temporary maps for use during this cycle only. Presumably the lawsuits will revise the Lege's maps and those finalized maps will be used starting in 2014.

It may save Hunter:)

It is the Legislature's job to draw the maps. They should not give that authority to the courts.

The courts will set the matter.

The majority has proven that they can't contain their ambition and we'll end up right back here again.

Precedent was set in 2003. Accountable legislators should set the boundaries, not unelected judges.

The lege has taken enough time on this. Our state is in crisis and the limited time devoted to the state's business needs to be dedicated to pressing public policy concerns, not partisan power plays.

That would be an extension of the problem.

Normally I would say that a legislature should control redistricting (at least in the absence of a nonpartisan redistricting commission). But not THIS Legislature.

They are incapable of a Constitutional map.

Would depend on who is President and controlling the Justice Dept.

But won't until 2013

They haven't gotten it right in decades. Why think they would get it right now?

Am guessing they will . . . and meet somewhere in the middle.

They had their chance and got too greedy.

Why bother? They can't seem to do it correctly. Might as well let the Court's map stand.

Same thing will happen as 2011 sessions.

The House will be able to do better maps in 2013 because they won't have to figure out 101 Republican seats

If they cannot draw districts which are 'representative' of all the citizens, then the court districts will remain in place. Texas needs a Redistricting Board -‐ appointed and bi partisan -‐ to draw districts. It will probably never happen, but it would be best. Districts are to represent 'compact' communities of interest -‐ not sprawling spider districts to garner enough of one party or the other.

They'll have more important matters to deal with in 2013-‐-‐a failing revenue system and an unconstitutional school finance system.


No. If Perry calls the Lege back in the spring of 2012 to redraw the court-‐drawn map, then, just like its predecessor, that new Republican friendly map will end up in court again. Republicans don't want just a majority; they want a super majority and that greed is what helped that original map fail muster. The court-‐drawn maps are what will be in place for the upcoming elections, and if those numbers stand then the Lege will see major change (compared to this year) in political power.

Trying to re-‐screw up their redistricting screw up is likely what they'll do. Of course, people would rather they fix school finances, but oh the heck well. When has the Texas legislature ever put the people ahead of party?

At this stage they should let sleeping dogs lie; lest we find ourselves in the exact same situation in the Fall of 2013.

Let the courts

No. They had their chance and screwed it up.

I say no, but out of sheer, unadulterated morbid curiosity, I'd love to see what they'd come up with

Are you kidding? Should the Legislature do something just because it can? As long as nothing else has to occur in the next regular session.

Although it will be an expense that accomplishes little -‐ nonetheless, it is the Legislature's right and responsibility.

We need a commission that has equal numbers of Republican appointees and Democratic appointees so someone must cross over.

Bite the bullet and get 'er done.

Should state money be spent to bring events like Formula One racing and the Super Bowl to Texas?

Here's a novel idea, let's spend more money on education.

...As long as it's a wash -‐-‐ meaning the economic impact generates at least the amount of money that is being spent.

Super Bowl -‐ Yes. Formula One -‐ No. We know what we're getting when hosting an event like the Super Bowl. Formula One is a case of 'If we build it, they MIGHT come.'

Corporate welfare

Yes, if it also reinvests its winnings in the community by using the financial gains to build the states schools and universities, investing resources in education from pre-‐k to graduate schools, and, providing resources to nonprofits for general support.

Duh

Government should not, as a general rule, finance private profit-‐making events. Corruption and favoritism inevitably follow


That's one thing the Tea Party and the OWS people can agree upon-‐-‐no more 'crony capitalism.'

It's not state money. It's money from patrons of the events collected at the events that support the fund.

It's a race to the bottom, where all the public benefits are given away to private parties.

Overall, good for the state.

Taxpayer monies SHOULD NOT be used to support sporting events.

Economic development can occur here or somewhere else -‐ I vote for here

IF it makes sense . . . and only if.

It really depends on a cost/benefit analysis.

The state shouldn't spend for Formula 1, cancer research, or emerging technology until they can find the money for what we need: infrastructure.

Only if the state will TRULY benefit from this financially -‐ and I do not see how they can! We expect the French and Italians (who make up most of the Formula One groups) to fall in love with hot, muggy Texas and decide to move here, vacation here or otherwise come and spend money here -‐ not likely.

But only where state funding is tightly bound to investor funding and proven substantial economic gain for the state.

If big-‐government sugar rushes would fix the economy, our unemployment rate wouldn't be as high as it is.

Taxpayer money should not be used to benefit specific groups like the tourism industry in the Metroplex. If local groups want to hold these events, they should be the ones investing the money, not the state.

It's an investment.

They are economic drivers

But no advance $. After the true impact can be determined then reimburse some $ if they hit expectations.

Conservatives need to have a come to Jesus meeting. If corporations want government to get out of the way of doing business, then corporations have NO business asking the government for handouts.

I hope the Governor tries. It is just good economic sense. Educating kids brings no economic rewards for years. This will bring in sales tax. So does legalizing drugs.

Hell no! If it can't stand on its own two feet (or ride on its own four wheels) it shouldn't be done.

Is Formula One racing a good economic deal for the state of Texas?

What is formula one? Who cares? NASCAR is where it's at....

One time shot at success. High risks. Low rewards.


If it's done purely with private money, sure-‐-‐bring it on.

Assuming they run in Texas and not NJ. ; )

Seriously -‐ this is TEXAS -‐ Ricky Bobby or Jean Girard -‐ NASCAR -‐ SHAKE & BAKE baby!

F1 is huge.

Even if it is a good deal -‐ not a good political move especially considering NJ is getting one without the cash on the barrel.

Don't know, don't care. Even if it is, just because something is a 'good economic deal' does not mean the government should be involved in it. The government is a non-‐profit-‐-‐it's not supposed to chase money. That's why we have what seems like 117 different kinds of license plates, which is 116 too many.

There is a reason why other cities and states have passed on Formula One.

It's the equivalent of 10 consecutive Super Bowls in Texas. Who in their right mind would turn that down?

The whole thing made no sense at all. Too few hotel rooms. Inadequate transportation. Outdoors event in June. Give me a break (but not a tax break).

Sure. Let's give a billionaire Brit $250 million for a sport that has never succeeded in the U.S. Makes abundant sense.

Haven't a clue.

They were coming to Austin anyway before we put the money on the table. Now they won't come if we don't. At least Gov. Christi stood tall and gave not rebates and no incentives. They still have a race.

Have to weigh the state's expenditure against the total economic benefit-‐ only one race per year or other broader use of the facility that will attract out of the area tourists.

Done well, Formula One and other high-‐profile motorsports events can be a tremendous gain but it is far too early to know whether the current project will succeed. As a life-‐long motor-‐head who suffers greatly the lack of 'motor-‐culture' in central Texas, I'm rooting for a win!

Also, it brings annoying people to Austin. We're full up here.

This depends on how it's paid for.

It could be a good deal. The state just shouldn't have to give F1 someone else's tax money to get it here.

I believe the event will be well attended and give Austin (not the rest of Texas) the international exposure it wants. Whether or not is a good economic deal is yet to be determined.

If it makes money do it!

Formula One is still better than Grecian Formula.

F1 racing is a great opportunity. However, with the new F1 opportunity in New York/New Jersey it might not be realistic to think that the Austin race


will actually take place. NY/NJ is a major media market. Bernie Ecclestone might be using the funding issue as an

excuse not to run a race in Austin since he has NY/NJ now.

Hell no! It's a stupid idea.

Our thanks to this week's participants: Gene Acuna, Clyde Alexander, George Allen, Jay Arnold, Louis Bacarisse, Charles Bailey, Mike Barnett, Reggie Bashur, Dave Beckwith, Rebecca Bernhardt, Andrew Biar, Allen Blakemore, Tom Blanton, Steve Bresnen, Chris Britton, Andy Brown, Lydia Camarillo, Kerry Cammack, Marc Campos, Snapper Carr, William Chapman, Elizabeth Christian, George Cofer, Rick Cofer, Lawrence Collins, John Colyandro, Harold Cook, Hector De Leon, June Deadrick, Tom Duffy, Jeff Eller, Jack Erskine, John Esparza, Jon Fisher, Terry Frakes, Neftali Garcia, Dominic Giarratani, Eric Glenn, Kinnan Golemon, John Greytok, Bill Hammond, Sandy Haverlah, Adam Haynes, Jim Henson, Ken Hodges, Billy Howe, Laura Huffman, Shanna Igo, Deborah Ingersoll, Cal Jillson, Jason Johnson, Mark Jones, Robert Kepple, Richard Khouri, Tom Kleinworth, Nick Lampson, Pete Laney, Dick Lavine, James LeBas, Donald Lee, Ruben Longoria, Homero Lucero, Vilma Luna, Matt Mackowiak, Dan McClung, Parker McCollough, Robert Miller, Craig Murphy, Keats Norfleet, Pat Nugent, Nef Partida, Gardner Pate, Jerry Philips, Wayne Pierce, Royce Poinsett, Kraege Polan, Jay Propes, Ted Melina Raab, Bill Ratliff, Karen Reagan, Tim Reeves, Kim Ross, Jason Sabo, Luis Saenz, Mark Sanders, Andy Sansom, Jim Sartwelle, Stan Schlueter, Bruce Scott, Steve Scurlock, Dee Simpson, Ed Small, Martha Smiley, Todd Smith, Larry Soward, Dennis Speight, Tom Spilman, Jason Stanford, Bob Strauser, Colin Strother, Charles Stuart, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Sherry Sylvester, Bruce Todd, Trent Townsend, Trey Trainor, John Weaver, Ware Wendell, Michael Wilt, Lee Woods, Peck Young, Angelo Zottarelli.

Documents

The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune insider's poll for …s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/documents/...2011/11/28 · INSIDE INTELLIGENCE: The Texas Weekly/Texas Tribune