Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: “President Carter once said that we must adjust to changing times, but maintain unchanging principles. Today, in Texas…”

“President Carter once said that we must adjust to changing times, but maintain unchanging principles. Today, in Texas, we have 53 brave and principled men and women, Texas legislators, all who are doing exactly that. They are adjusting to changing times. They are maintaining unchanging principles. The issue of Texas redistricting has certainly gotten much media attention in the last couple of days due to the principled and brave actions of 53 Texas patriots. I particularly want to thank east Texas Representatives Barry Telford, Mark Homer, Chuck Hopson, Jim McReynolds and Dan Ellis for their leadership; also Representatives Dunnam, Deshotel and others who have been at the forefront of this battle along with many other members of the Texas House. The issue of Texas redistricting has been a long road for us, and each step of the way paved by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) has been difficult and detrimental to rural Texans and particularly to my constituents in east Texas. Right out of the starting block, Tom DeLay's race to redistrict has been an absolute sham. We know it, the Republicans know it, Tom DeLay knows it. The media in Texas knows it. Everybody in this House knows it. It is nothing but a sham.”