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

Clean election systems cost from $2 to $6 per year for each voting-age resident, a bargain for trimming costly special-interest influence. In North Carolina, for example, the clean-election option has virtually ended an outrageous special-interest bidding war for seats on the state’s top courts.

Read the full article here:
Our view on elections: 5 reasons for public financing States, cities lead with clean-money alternative to a seamy system.
USA Today Editorial 12/10/07

Groups have formed in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Get involved with one of these local groups:

• Austin
• Dallas
• Houston
• San Antonio

NEW YORK - Citing new evidence that Indiana’s voter identification law is disenfranchising thousands of Indiana voters, lawyers at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and a coalition of voting rights organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief today urging the U.S. Supreme Court to scuttle the Indiana law.

The Brennan Center’s brief comes as new research, also released today, from the University of Washington Institute on for the Study of Ethnicity and Race is providing the first direct evidence that Indiana’s voter identification law is disenfranchising thousands of Indiana voters, especially African-American and low-income voters as well as senior citizens and students.

“The state of Indiana has the most stringent voter identification law in the country. This study makes clear that their law - rather than preventing fraud - is actually disenfranchising substantial numbers of Indiana voters,” said Michael Waldman, the Brennan Center’s executive director.

Video courtesy of Quantum Shift TV; based on Lappé’s new book, Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity and Courage in a World Gone Mad. Check out both the video and the book — and pass them on.

And if you really want to get into the nitty-gritty details, use this link to conduct all kinds of searches: by state agency, by payee, by “category and object of expense,” or by “class and item.”

TCAN is always looking for greater transparency and accountability in Texas government, so we applaud this good step forward by the Comptroller’s office. And if you see inequities or areas in which you think we as a people ought to be investing more … get involved!

That’s my vision for Texas and it’s why I volunteer my time at TCAN.

My confidence comes from a simple fact. I’ve asked around, and I haven’t found anyone I know who doesn’t agree that We the People need our government to once again work for us. Since almost everyone knows that special interests control politics right now, any Clean Elections purveyor of good news finds a very receptive audience.

Want to hear more? Then join us at a local Clean Elections meetup. They’re beginning to happen all across Texas. At each, we’re putting the best activist minds together to discuss how to best spread the word and build public interest and enthusiasm for advancing a measure that is fundamental to democracy. And we want you there.

If you’re committed to working for a political campaign during the upcoming political season, no problem. You can make a difference without having to add anything to your already-full plate just by talking it up at the events you’ll be attending. Come find out more at a Clean Elections meetup near you!

I know it’ll take time, but we WILL have Clean Elections in Texas.
I also know we’ll get there much sooner if we have you with us.

Please join us. It’s the right thing to do.

Stewart Snider, Field and Communications Director
True Courage Action Network

1. Cultivate the feeling of a powerful mega-donor by deciding which presidential candidates you would like to ‘take out’ of the running.

2. Then, kinda like mega-donors do in real elections, buy influence in this contest. In our game, it’s in the form of "reverse votes" for $1 each. Remember, a "reverse votes" serves to kick out, rather than vote in. (Strategy tip: You might want to put $1 dollar each on 16 different candidates to leave only your favorite one standing. Or, heck, play big with $50 to run off the candidate who most drives you up the wall.) So, use your influence money to kick your opponents off the ballot before the final voting on Sept. 28-30.

3. Toss your head back, hands pressed together, and let go with a sinister ‘muuwhahah’ laugh, letting others know that you know you have the influence! (And political influence will never come cheaper, my friends! Or will it? TCAN is on the case with a Clean Elections solution.)

Just for the record: True Courage Action Network strongly opposes unlimited and unregulated money in politics. But the fact is, the current system in Texas allows mega-donors to have an undue influence on our democracy. One result is a “Battle of the Ballot” often takes place BEFORE ordinary citizens have their say by casting a single vote. So, just between us activists, we thought it would be fun to see what might happen if we all played this “reverse election” game to kick people out before they can be voted in, with stakes we can all afford. And better yet, this is all guilt-free: your money in this contest will do good, as it supports TCAN in its efforts to tame the often anti-democratic influence of mega-donors in future elections.

Some Details
TCAN is a nonpartisan 501(c)4 tax-exempt nonprofit corporation. Contributions are not tax-deductible because we actively seek to affect public policy. Your contributions help support TCAN’s Clean Elections project.

This game is to raise money, to raise awareness, and to have fun. The True Courage Action Network does not endorse any candidate or party and is not attempting to influence the real presidential election.

The first round has begun and will last one week. Votes are $1 each, but there is a minimum of $5 to play. The good news: there is no maximum!The second round will be quick, Sept. 28-30, with only four survivors candidates (two from each major party) to receive your votes. We’ll email you a reminder to vote when the second round begins on Sept. 28.

Be sure to tell your friends: surely, there’s a candidate they, too, want off the island, um, ballot! You may vote against one or against many; the strategy is up to you. You may come back to vote (and donate) as many times as you wish, and check on the candidates’ progress.

When you vote, you’ll have the opportunity to share your comments. Some will be featured on our website, as well as on political blogs around the state.

Ready … (get out your wallet for a good cause) … set … (pretend each $1 is $100,000 or so) … play!

TXU and its suitors spent up to $17 million in lobbying expenditures during the recent legislative session. An 83-person-strong lobby force roamed the capitol halls on behalf of the utility to successfully fight off rate rollbacks and oversight. The $17 million spree does not include political contributions or money spent on public relations consultants.

Read more fun facts and serious analysis in TPJ’s latest Lobby Watch.