“It’s going to pass,” State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville said.  “The votes are there.”

Sources in Austin tell me that the Senate may ad an amendment requiring Texas to bypass DOJ preclearance and go straight to United States District Court for approval.  This is smart, wise and prudent if Texas wants to save money, time, and make it more likely that the law will become effective under the Voting Rights Act.  Its something every state subject to Section 5 preclearance of redistricting plans should copy.