FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision to Hear Case on Tom DeLay’s Redistricting Scheme

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the United States Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case on Congressman Tom DeLay’s illegal redistricting scheme in Texas:

“Today’s Supreme Court action agreeing to take up the Texas case on Tom DeLay's illegal redistricting scheme is a hopeful sign that the voting rights of millions of minorities will be restored.  

“We recently learned that the non-partisan legal staff at the Department of Justice unanimously recommended that the redistricting scheme be rejected because it violates the Voting Rights Act, a recommendation rejected by Bush Administration political appointees.  The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to right this latest example of the Republican culture of corruption and restore the Voting Rights Act to its historic role in furthering justice for all Americans.  The American people are paying the price for this blatant abuse of the redistricting process, which puts Republicans’ special interests ahead of an agenda that works for everyone.”

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi