Interesting: The Texas Redistricting Affair Continues

Federal Panel Rejects Texas Dems' Lawsuit

A three-judge federal appeals panel dismissed a lawsuit filed by senate Democrats hoping to derail a new round of Republican-led congressional redistricting in Texas.

The Democrats argued that Senate rule changes by Republicans to further the redistricting effort violated federal law. The judges, who listened to two hours of arguments Thursday in Laredo, dismissed those claims.

The ruling represented another setback for Democrats who have been fighting for several months to thwart GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional map. They say it would hurt minority representation in Congress.