More than a month ago, 11 Democrats went to New Mexico, and today 10 are still heroes to their constituents and the entire State of Texas - especially the rural communities and 1.4 million Hispanics and African Americans most threatened by the unprecedented abuse of power by Tom DeLay and the Bush Administration. While John Whitmire's surrender has undoubtedly made Tom DeLay a very happy politician, Democrats will continue to fight this legally unnecessary, historically unprecedented and politically arrogant assault on Texans' voting rights.

Sacrificing Texas voters to Tom DeLay's power-grab won't solve the school finance crisis - especially while Gov. Perry keeps delaying a school finance special session. It won't save Texas taxpayers from the $3.4 million redistricting tab Gov. Perry has already run up, or the $1.7 million cost of a 3rd special session, or the $5 million legal bill to defend any new map in court, or the $10.5 million cost of moving the Congressional primary date. That's a $20 million taxpayer-funded welfare check to the national Republican Party.

Not since Richard Nixon and Watergate has America seen such a dangerous and dishonest abuse of power. For most of this year, Republicans from the White House to the Governor's Mansion have misled the public and abused their power. They've turned the people's government into an arm of the Republican Party - abusing state police and the Homeland Security and Justice Departments to enforce a nakedly partisan power-grab.

And while Bush's political advisers dishonestly advertise a so-called 'minority outreach' program, he is secretly allowing his White House to help Tom DeLay steal the votes of 1.4 million Hispanics and African Americans in his home state. In the process, Texas Republicans have attacked a Hispanic Senator with a racist radio ad and imposed a modern-day 'poll tax' on 7 Hispanic, 2 African American and 2 Anglo Senators representing minority districts.

If Gov. Perry breaks his word for the 3rd time and calls yet another costly special session on redistricting, and if Lt. Gov. Dewhurst again violates his own 21-vote standard for Congressional redistricting, then Democrats will continue to do everything in our power to protect Texas voters and taxpayers.

Martin Frost (TX-24th)
Member of Congress



Note: U.S. Rep Martin Frost (D-TX) is the senior Member of Congress from Texas. He is the Ranking Democratic Member of the House Rules Committee. Frost is also the senior Southern Democrat in the U.S. House.