New Republican Congressional Districts in Danger

By Bill Burch Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Races at the top of the ballot have a major impact on down ballot races. The Congressional races have a particularly strong impact because of the closeness of the candidates to the voters. Which ever Party has their Congressman in office will be able to pick up most of the down ballot seats such as Constable County Commissioner Judges State Representative and even State Senator. What part of the last elections groundswell do some of our Republican Congressmen who are redrawing the current lines not understand?   The Grass Roots Institute of Texas has set the bar at twenty-nine (29) Republican Districts with its map (PLANC112). If adopted that map also presents the opportunity for Texas Republicans to possibly win up  to three more Congressional seats over & above the 29 draw by the map. Republican Congressman Lamar Smith speaking for some of the current Republican Congressmen has delivered a map to the Leadership Offices of the Texas Senate and House that gives Texas only 25 Republican Districts. This means he and any Republican Congressmen supporting his effort are willing to give up four (4) Districts to the Democrats. I discussed the Smith map with Eric Opiela (State Republican Executive Committeeman for Senate District 21). Eric is the actual person who was commissioned to draw the map for Congressman Lamar Smith and his supporters in Congress. I also talked to several Congressmen and their staff members about this map. Some of the Congressmen were adamantly opposed to the Lamar Smith map. The Census Bureaus American Community Survey brings to light some interesting facts. There was an increase of 4293741 people in Texas. Of that amount 3301848 are of voting age. Now for the big eye-opening news ...

Only 48.3 (1595254) of the new voting age residents are citizens.

So who are these non-citizens?

1. 1 out of 10 Black residents (8.8) over the age of eighteen is not a citizen.
2. One half of the Asian population (46) in Texas is not a citizen. 
3. 309548 Anglos (3.4) are not citizens and
4. 2 out of every 5 Hispanics (40.2) are not citizens.

Regardless of who they are someone who is not a citizen should not be given representation in Congress. Democrat Congressman Gonzales has threatened to sue Texas if the Republicans do not give two of the four new seats to the Hispanics. He seems to think that an increase of 2469970 non-citizen Hispanics and 700186 citizen Hispanics of voting age warrant the creation of two Congressional Districts of 698488 residents each. He has the arrogance to demand half the new seats so that the Hispanic non-citizens receive proper representation. If one believes what you hear in Austin Congressman Smith and most of the Republican Congressional delegation are willing to meekly hand over half the new seats to the Democrats. Both Democrat Gonzales and the San Antonio-based Republican Smith know that by adding a Democrat seat in Tarrant and Dallas Counties that he is giving the Democrats an opportunity to take down ballot seats from Republicans. This could possibly turn over the Courthouse and multiple J.P Constable and County Commissioner seats. This could also upset the balance in the Senate because District 9 would surely become vulnerable and maybe District 16 as would several of the House seats. Republican Congressmen paid Eric Opiela to do this. In South Texas the GRIT map helps to strengthen the Republican gains there. This seems to be offensive to Smith and Opeila. They want to shore up the South for the Democrats because they simply cant seem to face the reality of Hispanics voting Republican. At a time when Conservative Minorities are moving in droves to the Republican Party many of the Republican Congressmen sitting in their Washington D.C. offices seem to not understand that they are creating a split between moderate and conservative Republicans. These Congressmen seem to think they own these seats. They apparently dont understand that they work for us and need to be the voice of the citizens not against the citizens.  Only 16 of the new residents are Hispanic citizens of voting age. Yet over 67 of the Texas House members are Republicans. The Democrats and their Socialist policies must be sent to the corner where they can sulk. In the meantime we must call the Lt. Governor and your State Senator. Let them know that you want the map from the Grass Roots that will maximize the number of Republicans that are elected to Congress. Or email the Republican Senators at first name period last name@senate.state.tx.us (i.e john.corona@senate.state.tx.us) and ask them to support the grassroots activist by supporting the GRIT PLANC112 map. Please remember that it is much easier to win the seats in Congress and the down ballot seats through todays redistricting process than it will be to win after the districts are approved. Please call or email now Texas needs you. Mr. Bill Burch is Chairman of G.R.I.T (Grass Roots Institute of Texas).