Those interested in VRA renewal should not miss this report, originally appearing in the Dallas Morning News. In addition to providing information on the moves of the Texas and Georgia delegations in the House that I noted a few days ago, it contains this information from the Senate side of things:

The Senate Judiciary Committee hasn’t yet voted on the extension. Westmoreland’s office says a number of southern senators on the panel support his effort.
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is on that committee, said he has no problem with the delay.
“It doesn’t expire until 2007. We’ve got some time to work on it,” he said. “There’s more than the Voting Rights Act at stake. There’s political calculations going on, and I want to try and make sure I understand what that’s all about.”
He said he also shares concerns about another element of the law regarding language assistance. Jurisdictions with high numbers of people whose native language isn’t English must print bilingual ballots. Some must also provide translators.
“In order to be an American citizen you have to learn English. Why would we continue to publish ballots in a language other than English?”’ That’s a pretty compelling argument,” Cornyn said.

This may get more interesting than originally anticipated.