Bush says for Voting Rights Act, but refuses to enforce for TX GOP's sake

[Inland]

For anyone who doesn't realize it already (and the GOP knows it full well) it doesnt' matter WHAT laws are on the books if the president isn't enforcing them. Immigration, anti-torture, right to due process, Voting Rights Act. It really does make a difference who is in charge of enforcing statutes. Just saying.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512020156dec02,1,3891839.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Bush Urges Renewal of Voting Rights Act
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The provisions that expire, in 2007, include one requiring states with a history of racial discrimination--mostly in the South--to get federal approval to change their voting laws or district lines and another requiring election officials to provide voting material in the native language of immigrant voters who don't speak English.
snip


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512020160dec02,1,1991290.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Federal lawyers overruled on DeLay-led remapping
Officials ignored memo concluding Texas plan violated voting law

By Dan Eggen
The Washington Post
Published December 2, 2005


WASHINGTON -- Justice Department lawyers concluded that the landmark Texas congressional redistricting plan spearheaded by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) violated the Voting Rights Act, but senior officials overruled them and approved the plan, according to a previously undisclosed memo.

The memo, unanimously endorsed by six lawyers and two analysts in the department's voting section, said the redistricting plan illegally diluted black and Hispanic voting power in two congressional districts. It also said the plan eliminated several other districts in which minorities had a substantial, though not necessarily decisive, influence in elections.

"The state of Texas has not met its burden in showing that the proposed congressional redistricting plan does not have a discriminatory effect," the memo concluded.

snip

In their analysis, the Justice Department lawyers emphasized that the last-minute changes--made in a legislative conference committee, out of public view--fundamentally altered the redistricting proposals approved separately by the Texas House and Senate.

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[AverageJoe]

1. Kick

:kick:

[The Witch]

2. yay, we are the AUP!

the Association of Underappreciated Posters! :D

[Inland]

3. Hah! I lied! Sucker! Bwa-ha-ha-ha! nt

[The Witch]

4. :shrug: Fool me once, shame on... erm... shame on you...

or whatever it was.

</bush impression>

Good news, though, you blew your cover four recs too early. :)

[Inland]

5. I just recommended your second post by mistake.

That's not helping any, is it? I'll try again.