• ^t :;" ft,:' °t7 ale Austin Decisions making law in texas AMARILLO GLOBE NEWS FEB 2 2 The issue of redrawing state Sena- torial and Congressional districts faces the Texas Legislature this ses- sion, but it looks as though it might be April, wt.. er the official, final U.S. Census figures ...e available before any se' :JIB work is done in this area. Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby's office re- cently released some preliminary fig- ures. Those figures indicate that Tex- as will gain three new Congressional seats. They also indicate that both the 13th Congressional District and the 31st Senatorial District will have to be expanded. According to i „ports prepared for ioby, Texas experienced a 27 per- tent increase in population between 1970 and 1980, from 11.2 million to 14.2 million. For the present 24 Congressional districts, the ideal population will be 526,977, compared to 466,530 a decade ago. That is an increase of 13 percent, or 60.477 persons per Congressional district. Assuming, however, that there will be 27 Congressional dis- tricts after reapportionment, the ideal is 524,160. The ideal Senatorial district will be 458,980, compared t an ideal of 361,247 in 1970. That's an increase of 27 percent, or 97.773 persons per dis- trict. The 13th Congressional District, represented by Jack Hightower of By BENJAMIN KECK Gistmo-Notris 141dIst Editor Vernon, has a 1980 population of 504,- 266, compared to 466.663 in 1970. That is an 8 06 percent overall population increase, but it leaves the district 19,- 894 persons short of the ideal popula- tion for a Congressional district. The 31st Senatorial District, repre- sented by Bill Sarpalius of Hereford, saw an 11.7 percent population in- crease during the past 10 years, from 368,160 in 1970 to 411,180 last year. Still, the district is 45,347 people short of the ideal population. There likely will be no fancy moves at gerrymandering in the reap- portionment because the U.S. Depart- ment of Justice is reportedly keeping a sharp eye on all states' redistricting efforts. The Texas House of Representa- tives already has approved a resolu- tion designed to avoid any surprises that could cause federal rejection of new districts. Much of the resolution follows Justice Department and U.S. Su- preme Court guidelines which say dis- tricts must have substantially equal population and that there cannot be ethnic discrimination in drawing the new districts. The resolution also creates a citi- zens advisory committee, which pre- sumably would be appointed by House Speaker Bill Clayton. The com- mittee would advise the Legislature on redistricting. • • • Initiative and referendum. Gov. Bill Clements campaigned on that issue. It fell 11 votes short of vic- tory in the 1979 session of the Legisla- ture. Initiative would give citizens the to initiate new laws or Coristitu- uonal amendments. Referendum would give the peo- ple the right to repeal existing laws. Such measures would have to be approved by the Legislature in the form of Constitutional amendments, which would have to be approved by the voters. Several measures involving initia- tive and referendum are scheduled for hearing Tuesday in Austin. The House Constitutional Amendments Committee will meet at 2 p.m., or upon adjournment of the House. The committee apparently expects a big crowd because the meeting has been moved from the regular meeting room to the floor of the House. Clements' controversial wiretap bill comes before the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee for a hear- ing on Wednesday. The committee will meet at 2 p.m. in the Old Supreme Courtroom at the Capitol in Austin. The bill, known as NB 360, would authorize wiretaps to catch persons trafficking in drugs. The bill has been discussed here previously. Briefly, it will permit law- men to ask for wiretaps when they think they can get evidence on drug traffickers. Court approval of such wiretaps would be strict and only the Texas Department of Public Safety would be allowed to carry out the wiretap. Clements claims the proposal has more built-in safeguards than similar laws already in effect in other states. That doesn't advocate civil rights advocates who claim such a law could lead to abuses of individual rights. Clements recognized for role HLIN7SVP,t..7 ITEM v.,: p 2. 9 '81 In recognition of hig ititerest in disabled persons, Gov. William P. Clements, Jr., recently was presented a Certificate of Recognition commen- ding Texas'Afirly role in the Interna- tional Year4Disabled Persons, which officially brAn Jan. 1. Allen B. Clark, Jr., state liaison to the communities ot America where disabled persons live and work that further ,progress must be made. The leadership of Clements and Clark will help ensure that Texas communitie.; will commit themselves to goals that will really make a difference," Reich said. portation; and expanded cultural and recreational opportunities. Improved rehabilitation, and accident and disease prevention are also among the designated long-term goals. Already more than 1,400 com- munities and 200 national organiza- tions are cooperating with the U.S. Council in the Community Partnership Program. The governor of every state has appointed liaisons to the U.S. ' More than 80 Texas communities are alrcady acti‘,eiii tile U.S. Council's '11.1 I