HoustonChronicle.com - DeLay says redistricting deal close: "'The press should cover redistricting like a crime instead of a sporting event, because the participants are not players, they're perpetrators of a historic and blatant abuse of power that has never been seen before in the halls of this Capitol,' said state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston.

Through three special legislative sessions, the fight will have cost taxpayers almost $4.2 million.

The fight in West Texas focuses on Craddick's desire to create a congressional district for his hometown of Midland.

Richter said the dispute is over which congressional district should contain Eastland and Deaf Smith counties, which have a combined population of about 36,800. Craddick is trying to build a congressional district that will guarantee that someone from Midland will win the Republican congressional primary. "

Hats off to the Chron for effectively covering the crime, even if it failed to note this in the headlines. Bubba Craddick's cronyism is exposed.