Governor Perry has called a special session, but as a reader notes, oddly congressional redistricting is not on the agenda. With the Texas legislature also controlled by Republicans (remember the recently-passed voter i.d. law), as an outsider it is not clear to me about why the governor would do this. As my reader notes, it is odd that Perry, as someone who has written about his support for states’ rights, would abdicate this responsibility and have those districts drawn by a federal court.

UPDATE: Here‘s what’s up in Texas:

Despite enjoying huge supermajorities in the Legislature, Republican leaders have failed to pass legislation redrawing the boundaries for Texans in Congress. If the Legislature doesn’t produce a map, it will fall to the federal courts to draw new districts to adjust for huge population gains. Texas grew by 4.3 million people, more than any other state, and is getting four new seats in Congress as a result.

Perry told reporters that he would only call legislators back to Austin on redistricting if lawmakers agree on a map in advance.

“Obviously my druthers is that this bill gets taken care of by the Legislature. I don’t think it’s the court’s business,” Perry said. “When they get to an agreed bill then I would be willing to talk about having them back in there for a very quick two- or three-day session to get redistricting done.”

Perry said he would not call lawmakers into a session without a deal in advance.

Well that explains it.

Thanks to a reader for the pointer.