TexBlog Pac is a collection of bloggers working to directly fund, support, and help win a Democratic majority in the Texas House. http://www.texblogpac.org/?page_id=2
Gerrymandering and redistricting have brought about an unfairly maintained Republican majority. Very few Congressional seats are competitive. http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0519-24.htm
The district lines are custom redrawn so that Republican Congressmen choose who votes for them. Rick Perry, the incumbent governor of Texas, recently retook the governor's mansion with 39% of the vote.
Winning a few seats is all it takes and the Democrats can remove Tom Craddick, the current House Speaker. We will have a Democratic majority. Progressive politics will be possible in Texas.
TexBlog Pac seeks a synergistic existence with activists to gain representation for Texans that more accurately reflects their values.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Rick Noriega 2 Points Behind John Cornyn
According to the Progressive Electorate:
A recent Texas Lyceum poll (a non-profit, non-partisan group) shows Rick Noriega is only 2 points behind John Cornyn; 38% to 36% with 24% undecided.
http://www.progressiveelectorate.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=9224ABF51D79616F6828100C97F97C3D?diaryId=22
A recent Texas Lyceum poll (a non-profit, non-partisan group) shows Rick Noriega is only 2 points behind John Cornyn; 38% to 36% with 24% undecided.
http://www.progressiveelectorate.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=9224ABF51D79616F6828100C97F97C3D?diaryId=22
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Obama's Campaign to Have Presence in Texas
Hoping to influence specific local races, Obama's campaign will have a presence in Texas. According to Obama's deputy campaign manager, Hildebrand, Texas is "...one of the most important redistricting opportunities in the country." The state legislature will redraw congressional districts after the 2010 census.
http://www.truthout.org/article/obamas-aim-14-bush-states-and-local-races
http://www.truthout.org/article/obamas-aim-14-bush-states-and-local-races
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Competitive Texas House District 96
Chris Turner, Democrat, is running for the highly competitive seat of State Representative for Texas House District 96. This district is in Southern Tarrant County and it includes parts of Arlington, Fort Worth, Mansfield, and the city of Crowly.
According to Burnt Orange Report, Zedler, the incumbent, received 52% of the vote against an unfunded and relatively unknown Democrat, Chris Youngblood.
http://www.burntorangereport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4560
During the recent primaries, however, the Democrats outvoted the Republicans by a greater than two-to-one margin. There were more Democratic primary voters in HD 96 than in any other House District in Tarrant County.
The TexBlog Pac endorsed Chris Turner and contributed $5,000 to his campaign.
http://www.takingbacktexas.org/candidates.htm
Help send Chris Turner to Austin and take back Texas.
http://votechristurner.com/
Red Light Cameras
According to the Houston Chronicle Blog, James Rodriguez, Houston City Council Member from District 1, asked for a budget amendment to install 125 red light cameras.
In 2004 the Houston City Council approved traffic cameras for certain intersections. www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/004653.html
111,000 people were caught by red light cameras in Houston between September 2006 and August 2007. Of these, 360 challenged the tickets, 78 were successful. www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5085095.html
On September 1 2006, red light cameras were installed at 10 major intersections. There was a $75 civil fine when caught on camera; $150 for subsequent violations; $220 if cited by a police officer.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_events_of_Houston
It seems James Rodriguez is keeping at least three of his campaign promises:
"Introducing initiatives for safer neighborhoods and parks that will attract families."
"Seeking the funding we need to have responsive police and fire departments."
(Assuming that that is what the revenues are used for.)
"Working with neighborhood leaders for ordinances and laws that preserve our neighborhoods."
In 2004 the Houston City Council approved traffic cameras for certain intersections. www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/004653.html
111,000 people were caught by red light cameras in Houston between September 2006 and August 2007. Of these, 360 challenged the tickets, 78 were successful. www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5085095.html
On September 1 2006, red light cameras were installed at 10 major intersections. There was a $75 civil fine when caught on camera; $150 for subsequent violations; $220 if cited by a police officer.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_events_of_Houston
It seems James Rodriguez is keeping at least three of his campaign promises:
"Introducing initiatives for safer neighborhoods and parks that will attract families."
"Seeking the funding we need to have responsive police and fire departments."
(Assuming that that is what the revenues are used for.)
"Working with neighborhood leaders for ordinances and laws that preserve our neighborhoods."
HGLBT Caucus: July 4th Celebration
PARTY PARTY PARTY
The Houston GLBT Political Caucus will be having a 4th of July celebration to raise funds. All proceeds benefit Houston GLBT Political Caucus and will help to get better representation for the GLBT community elected!
7 pm is the VIP Pre-party. 8-10 pm is general admission ($50 per ticket for general admission.)
Join us at this exciting venue! RocBar, at Bayou Place, 530 Texas Avenue, Downtown Houston. Fireworks will be in view! For tickets and more information visit: theCaucus.org
PARTY PARTY PARTY
Monday, June 23, 2008
Farmers Branch:ACLU Victory
On December 26th of 2006 various plaintiffs filed suit in Dallas District Court challenging the city of Farmers Branch's anti-immigrant housing ordinance no. 2892. This ordinance was challenged under the U.S. Constitution and federal statutes. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief to halt its implementation and enforcement.
Vasquez V. City of Farmers Branch - Complaint.
The ordinance, enacted by the City Council November 13, 2006, required landlords and property managers of apartment buildings to document the US citizenship or "eligible immigration status" of all tenants prior to allowing the tenants to occupy an apartment.
On May 28th, 2008, the ACLU of Texas prevailed when the ordinance was declared unconstitutional for preempting federal law and violating due process.
Vasquez V. City of Farmers Branch - Complaint.
The ordinance, enacted by the City Council November 13, 2006, required landlords and property managers of apartment buildings to document the US citizenship or "eligible immigration status" of all tenants prior to allowing the tenants to occupy an apartment.
On May 28th, 2008, the ACLU of Texas prevailed when the ordinance was declared unconstitutional for preempting federal law and violating due process.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Amendment SA 4803
Amendment SA 4803 is also known as the expanded GI Bill of Rights, or Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Act. This amendment was proposed by Senator Reid. The bipartisan Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Act covers full in-state tuition at public universities for veterans who have served in the Armed Forces beginning on or after 9/11/2001.
It would pay the tuition to a public university with payments not to exceed the most expensive cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state the veteran is enrolled in. In addition, it would pay for room, board and supplies.
The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Act passed in the Senate 75-22. It just passed in the House. The Senate will have to vote on it again.
John Cornyn, Republican junior US Senator from Texas, voted against the expanded GI Bill.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, John Cornyn voted to approve $165 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but provided 1 of 22 votes against the domestic spending measure paired with the war spending bill. The senate bill would add about 50 billion through 2017 for veterans' educational benefits.
There are two competing bills. SA 4803 is sponsored by Senator James Webb, D-VA. The other bill is a trimmed-down version co-sponsored by Senator John McCain, R-AZ. Cornyn supports the McCain bill, which was defeated.
I found the following website helpful:
Vote Smart: www.votesmart.org
This is the link to the info about SA 4803:
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=19358
It would pay the tuition to a public university with payments not to exceed the most expensive cost of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university in the state the veteran is enrolled in. In addition, it would pay for room, board and supplies.
The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Act passed in the Senate 75-22. It just passed in the House. The Senate will have to vote on it again.
John Cornyn, Republican junior US Senator from Texas, voted against the expanded GI Bill.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, John Cornyn voted to approve $165 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but provided 1 of 22 votes against the domestic spending measure paired with the war spending bill. The senate bill would add about 50 billion through 2017 for veterans' educational benefits.
There are two competing bills. SA 4803 is sponsored by Senator James Webb, D-VA. The other bill is a trimmed-down version co-sponsored by Senator John McCain, R-AZ. Cornyn supports the McCain bill, which was defeated.
I found the following website helpful:
Vote Smart: www.votesmart.org
This is the link to the info about SA 4803:
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=19358
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Camp Equality 08
The Human Right's Campaign (HRC) Camp Equality, held at the Double Tree Hotel in Houston, was a two-day affair on Saturday and Sunday June 14-15. I attended on the 14th only. This was due to a commitment on the following day.
Campy Equality was a conference that had a Fundamentals Track, and, an Advanced Track. The two Tracks split up late in the afternoon. I attended the Fundamentals Track.
The Partner Organizations, with presentations made by each, included: Equality Texas, HGLBT PAC a.k.a. The Caucus, Houston Stonewall Young Democrats, The Sierra Club, Houston Area Stonewall Democrats, and Texas Young Democrats. There are links below to the respective organizations:
www.equalitytexas.org
www.thecaucus.org
www.houstonstonewallyd.org
www.sierraclub.org
www.houstonareastonewalldemocrats.com
www.texasyds.org
A variety of speakers gave practical advice on such diverse topics as blogging, gaining free media coverage, motivating reporters, helpful hints on holding a press conference, and how to be a good volunteer for a political campaign.
An openly gay candidate told anecdotes about his campaign. Also, a campaign manager presented examples of effective campaign messages, as well as a little advice on how not to craft your message.
Bill Kelly, Harris County Democratic Party
www.burntorangereport.com
JD Angle, The Tyson Organization
www.tyson.org
There are no magic beans when it comes to developing your message. But, there are helpful guidelines. People and personalizing stories are the key, things and abstractions: issues, are not.
Examples of effective mailers were shown via Power Point.
The "Message Box", a graphical technique used for developing your campaign message, was explained. It can be thought of as a two-dimensional table (two columns and two rows) to write in.
With the "Message Box" the two messages of your candidate and the two messages of the opposing candidate are written in the table and evaluated. What do you say about yourself and your opponent? What does you opponent say about himself and you?
The Earned Media talk was given by Robert Jara. To summarize, reporters are not your friends. Advice on understanding their motives was given. You may present research on the negative aspects to reporters if consistent with your campaign plan and message.
I attended the Fundamentals Track as opposed to the Advanced track. The Fundamentals Track was presented by Amy Everhart of the Sierra Club. The ratios: 40% 20 % 40% were presented with the 20% being the all-important "swing" voters. We saw a picture of sophisticated phone-banking equipment that was housed in back of a large truck. Questions regarding registering people to vote were answered. She recommended being deputized for that.
I found this to be a worthwhile conference, well attended, and interesting. My goal was to broaden my skills as a volunteer. As a precinct captain for the Obama campaign I was self-trained. I saw Camp Equality as an opportunity to more thoughtfully develop my skills. It was a success.
Jim
Campy Equality was a conference that had a Fundamentals Track, and, an Advanced Track. The two Tracks split up late in the afternoon. I attended the Fundamentals Track.
The Partner Organizations, with presentations made by each, included: Equality Texas, HGLBT PAC a.k.a. The Caucus, Houston Stonewall Young Democrats, The Sierra Club, Houston Area Stonewall Democrats, and Texas Young Democrats. There are links below to the respective organizations:
www.equalitytexas.org
www.thecaucus.org
www.houstonstonewallyd.org
www.sierraclub.org
www.houstonareastonewalldemocrats.com
www.texasyds.org
A variety of speakers gave practical advice on such diverse topics as blogging, gaining free media coverage, motivating reporters, helpful hints on holding a press conference, and how to be a good volunteer for a political campaign.
An openly gay candidate told anecdotes about his campaign. Also, a campaign manager presented examples of effective campaign messages, as well as a little advice on how not to craft your message.
Bill Kelly, Harris County Democratic Party
www.burntorangereport.com
JD Angle, The Tyson Organization
www.tyson.org
There are no magic beans when it comes to developing your message. But, there are helpful guidelines. People and personalizing stories are the key, things and abstractions: issues, are not.
Examples of effective mailers were shown via Power Point.
The "Message Box", a graphical technique used for developing your campaign message, was explained. It can be thought of as a two-dimensional table (two columns and two rows) to write in.
With the "Message Box" the two messages of your candidate and the two messages of the opposing candidate are written in the table and evaluated. What do you say about yourself and your opponent? What does you opponent say about himself and you?
The Earned Media talk was given by Robert Jara. To summarize, reporters are not your friends. Advice on understanding their motives was given. You may present research on the negative aspects to reporters if consistent with your campaign plan and message.
I attended the Fundamentals Track as opposed to the Advanced track. The Fundamentals Track was presented by Amy Everhart of the Sierra Club. The ratios: 40% 20 % 40% were presented with the 20% being the all-important "swing" voters. We saw a picture of sophisticated phone-banking equipment that was housed in back of a large truck. Questions regarding registering people to vote were answered. She recommended being deputized for that.
I found this to be a worthwhile conference, well attended, and interesting. My goal was to broaden my skills as a volunteer. As a precinct captain for the Obama campaign I was self-trained. I saw Camp Equality as an opportunity to more thoughtfully develop my skills. It was a success.
Jim
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