TCAN

The media heard your voices.

Our Texans Against Big Money press conference on the Capitol steps was well attended by members of the media from all over the state. Our chair, John Courage, served as moderator. Rep. Mark Strama (HB 110) and Rep. Mike Villarreal (HB 111) spoke eloquently about the need for reasonable limits on the currently unlimited individual contributions to Texas campaigns, and Rep. Todd Smith (HB 1085) spoke passionately about the need to put a stop to corporate-funded sham ads that skirt the prohibition on corporate campaign contributions.

Also participating in the press conference were several of the 17 groups that have signed onto the Texans Against Big Money statement, including Craig McDonald of Texans for Public Justice, Mary Finch of the League of Women Voters of Texas (both of whom spoke), Sarah Hudson of the Faith in Texas Fund, Ruth Milburn of Common Cause Texas, and Alison Dieter of the Gray Panthers.

In addition, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Atkinson happened to stop by and reminded us of Texas’s proud history and the importance of leaving power in the hands of ordinary people rather than the super-wealthy.

Hear are links to some of the coverage:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/4728173.html

http://news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=182736

The Elections Committee heard your voices.

Later, in the House Elections Committee Hearing there was a lively debate on these bills. I was impressed with the level of serious discussion and thoughtful consideration on the part of the committee members who have been most disinclined toward limiting political contributions and requiring disclosure of corporate media expenditures that benefit campaigns. John testified on behalf of HB 110 and 111 and presented the heavy stack of your petitions, explaining that we were speaking on behalf of all of you who signed it — people from all over the state, including constituents of each of the committee members.

I testified in support of Rep. Smith’s HB 1085 countering opponents’ suggestions that it might be unconstitutional. I cited definitive conclusions of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling on the 2003 case McConnell v. FEC, that permit regulation of sham issue ads, limits or bans on soft money contributions, and requirements of full and timely disclosure of spending on political ads.

Some of our readers who were concerned that political parties, but not G-PACS, would face new limits on campaign contributions they could receive under HB 111 will be glad to hear that Rep. Villarreal presented a committee substitute on his bill that adds general-purpose committees to the list of entities affected. [That substitute has not yet been officially posted, but when it is, we’ll post an update here.]

The highlight of the hearing came when Craig McDonald of TPJ played an example of a potential radio “issue” ad that would be completely allowable under current law. The ad was an attack on Rep. Leo Berman of Tyler (chair of the Elections Committee), clearly designed to get voters to vote against him, without saying the magic words, “Vote for XXXX.” The only identification of the sponsor of the ad was at the end, “Paid for by Texans for a Brighter Future,” some unknown group that could be corporate funded — who knows? I think the demonstration had a powerful impact. We’ll see …

The bill, as is customary, was left pending in committee. We hope it will be brought up for a vote next week. You can help make that happen by keeping our petition campaign going. If you haven’t signed it yet, please do; if you already have, THANKS, and please forward to friends.