TCAN

TCAN, as a member of Clean Elections Texas, a collaborative effort of several statewide and national organizations, is launching an effort to bring the issue of Publicly Financed Elections before the Texas State Democratic Party Convention by initiating the presentation of Clean Election resolutions at the precinct convention level statewide in the upcoming March 4th Democratic Primary.

The effort to place this item on the Democratic Primary ballot as a question Democrats around the state could have expressed their preference on was stymied at the SDEC January meeting, so TCAN and the other proponents are going to work with county Democratic Party organizations and Clubs and other progressive groups to bring the issue before the party through the primary precinct convention system.

This is a very significant issue at this time, possibly the most significant issue facing Texas voters and voters across this country today. No other major issue, such as universal health care, social justice issues, environmental justice issues, ending the war in Iraq, or protecting American jobs and economic equality, will ever get a fair shot as long as Big Money, special interests, private interests, and corporate America control the campaign purse strings of elected officials from Austin to Washington.

Publicly fnanced elections (known and already working in several states as Clean Elections) is a proven program for putting the electoral process and the legislative process back into the hands of the voters and citizens.

Below is a preview of the Clean Elections/publicly financed elections Resolution:

A Texas Public Campaign Financing Resolution

WHEREAS, campaign funding at all levels of government has soared in recent decades; and

WHEREAS, potential candidates are usually not considered viable without wealthy and economically powerful supporters; and

WHEREAS, under the current system of campaign financing, the average citizen cannot match the political influence of the economically powerful; and

WHEREAS, candidates and elected officials are required to spend a huge proportion of their time, energy, and staff raising funds rather than meeting with constituents; and

WHEREAS, the public interest has taken a back seat to the private and special interests which are influencing decisions made by our elected representatives; and

WHEREAS, public financing of campaigns has been successfully implemented in seven states and two cities;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Texas Democratic Party finds and declares that the unique factual circumstances in the State of Texas require that provisions for publicly financed elections be enacted to promote the compelling interests of democracy in Texas;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that to this end the Texas State Democratic Party meeting in convention insists that the Texas legislature during its next session commencing in January 2009, enact a law and/or pass legislation providing for such a constitutional amendment election necessary for the establishment of a publicly financed elections system in Texas. Such system would provide public financing for all state legislative and statewide elective office candidates who refuse to take any private interest or special interest campaign contributions and agree to certain spending limits. This public financing would be used by candidates to campaign for elective office adhering to all election and campaign reporting laws.

Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct Number____________, __________________________County
Precinct Convention Secretary: ____________________________________
Date: _________________

Resolution in Adobe pdf format for printing

We encourage all Texans concerned about the stranglehold that Big Money through corporations and private and special interests hold on our elected officials and their legislative agenda to copy this resolution and take it to you convention on the evening of March 4th and offer it as a resolution to be presented to the State Party Convention for formal action.

John Courage