AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Texas Senate Wednesday passed and sent to the House a congressional redistricting bill that could give Republicans as many as six additional U.S. House seats.
The GOP-controlled Senate passed the bill 18-12 after more than 10 hours of debate over the past two days. The House has passed it's own bill and the issue is expected to go to a conference committee to work out the differences.
A disagreement between Republicans over the congressional lines in West Texas may be the only remaining obstacle to final agreement on the matter.
Democrats have staged walkouts in the House and the Senate during the past four months to stall action on the Republican plan, but they are now resigned to passage.
During debate Democrats tried to establish a record for a lawsuit they plan to file under the federal Voting Rights Act, contending the plan dilutes minority voting rights.
There are currently 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the Texas U.S. House delegation, but Republicans contend they should have more seats because they control all major statewide offices.
