The Senate has given initial approval of a Senate redistricting map. The debate yielded little change to the committee substitute to SB 31. The only amendment adopted would make a small change to Travis County.
Democrats had expressed outrage when the Senate Redistricting Committee released a map that divided Travis County into 4 different districts, up from the 2 current, Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin) and Sen. Wentworth (R-San Antonio). But there wasn't an amendment offered today to change that configuration. The one change made brought ABIA back into Watson's district. But Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) and Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) remain new additions to Travis County.
The Senate delayed voting on the new House map while the Senators caucused over what I assume (Wild Guess Alert) is a problem with negotiations on the state budget (since Senate budget writer Steve Ogden called for the delay).
The Senate Redistricting Committee plans to take up a Congressional map Thursday morning.
