By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – In recent years, the members of the Alabama House have passed dozens of bills only to watch most get caught in a political fight in the Senate and die without coming up for a vote.
In the February session, it could be the House that is embroiled in a bitter political fight if Democrats try to redraw the lines of Alabama's Congressional districts -- a move that might make it easier for Democrats to win an open election 2nd Congressional District seat.
The 2nd district stretches across central and southeast Alabama from Prattville to Dothan, and it has been held by Republicans since 1964. But it's being vacated by retiring Congressman Terry Everett of Rehobeth.
The Legislature will be required to redraw both legislative and Congressional districts after the 2010 U.S. Census, but the buzz among Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature is that there might be an effort to redraw the Congressional districts before next year's elections.
House Minority Leader Rep. Mike Hubbard of Auburn, says he has warned House Speaker Seth Hammett that Republicans will ''lock everything down'' if there is an attempt to adopt a redistricting plan.
Hammett did not return a message seeking comment.
But Rep. Marcel Black of Tuscumbia, who chaired the House committee that drew up redistricting plans after the 2000 Census, says he has heard general talk about it, but has seen no specific plans.
Black says it would be a tough fight to pass a reapportionment plan next year, but, he says, ''a Congressional election is awfully important.''
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)