(Texas) State Democrats short on funds

[The Jacobin]

State Democrats short on funds

By John Moritz

(Fort-Worth) Star-Telegram Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - The Texas Democratic Party, which has been shut out in statewide elections since 1994 and remains in the minority in both houses of the Legislature, is nearly out of money and struggling to meet its payroll, leaders confirmed Wednesday.

"We're tight. This part of the year is always lean, and it's a little tough right now," said Mike Lavigne, the state party's chief of staff.

Lavigne and other influential Democrats said the party has a long history of living hand to mouth but also said that it is having to redouble its fund-raising efforts to make sure that its near-term payroll and office expenses are met.

The party came out of the 2004 election cycle spending about $400,000 more than it had raised.

Although the state party expects an infusion of cash from the Democratic National Committee, that money will be earmarked for special projects and operations not associated with the day-to-day running of the party office in Austin, Lavigne said.

"We're Democrats. We're never going to match the big-money operations the Republicans can mount," Lavigne said. "But at least the money we do raise is legal."

( ... )

[adarling]

1. proud member of the texas democrats

it is sad where the Dallas location is....down the street is the republican headquarters which reminds me of a Sultan's palace and then the headquarters for the democrats which reminds me of Oliver twist in a way. We could begin to take back some texas areas, we just need help. Texas isn't the republican strong hold everyone thinks it is, we just need to strike the right area...the DeLay battle in Texas is the best way to strike back and hit them hard. Help support the democratic challenger there.

[Goldeneye]

2. Out of curiosity, do you have to live in Texas to donate money?

[sonias]

3. Nope we proud TX Democrats will take your money

We're all in this together. I've contributed money to out of state candidates and if the call went out to help another state party too, I know the good Democrats in our country would pitch in too.

We're at ground zero fighting the good fight in the red states and we have a great bunch of committed Democrats on the ground fighting. At last week's SDEC meeting (State Democrat Executive Committee) meeting we heard some great news that the DNC is actually going to fund 5 staff position members in Texas. Thank you Howard Dean!

Here is the URL for the Texas Democrats web page
http://www.txdemocrats.org/

And for those of you in Texas kicking in and kicking it up a notch, make sure to include a little extra for your TX Senate District. So for example if you live in SD25 then kick in an extra 25 cents, SD21 then 21 cents etc.

:dem:

Sonia

[Goldeneye]

4. Thanks for the link.

Now we need one more recommend so more people see this. Or if not that, maybe you could repost it in the TX forum?

[Fenris]

5. I wish I had money to give them.

I really do.