Burnt Orange Report

Killer D's to Raise $$$ in D.C.

By Byron LaMasters

Texas Democrats are now reaping the benefits of an energized base willing to donate to their cause. The House Democratic Caucus has set up the Majority Political Action Committee of Texas. Its goal is to re-elect the House Democrats who broke quorum, and to help take Republican seats in the legislature, begining in 2004. Their first fundraiser was in Austin on July 17th, and tomorrow, they will go to Washington D.C. to raise money from national Democrats. The AP reports, via the Corpus Christi Caller Times:

On Tuesday, state and federal Democrats will hold two back-to-back receptions to raise money for a state political action committee. "You're invited to help show our national appreciation and to celebrate" the Killer D's, the invitation says. Killer D's is the name Democrats dubbed the state Democratic lawmakers who staged the May 12 walkout of the Texas House to kill a congressional redistricting bill.

Money for the receptions will go to MPACT, a political action committee operated by the state Democratic Caucus. The committee will use the money to keep the Killer D's in office and to target vulnerable Republicans.

The invitation lists all Texas' congressional Democrats as honorary co-chairs of their reception. State Democratic Reps. Garnet Coleman of Houston; Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio; Jim Dunnam of Waco and Pete Gallego of Alpine are the Killer D's are listed as attending the later reception.

"The Killer D's are heroes who stood up to Tom DeLay and a lot of people want to support them," said Rep. Martin Frost, D-Arlington.

DeLay, the majority leader in the U.S. House, pushed for a new congressional map in Texas that would increase the Republicans in the delegation and eliminate Democrats, including Frost.

The effort is not unlike the help that DeLay has provided state Republicans by organizing and helping to get funding for Texans for A Republican Majority. The PAC helped Republicans take control of the Texas House in 2002.

State Republicans found irony in the Democratic fund-raiser.

"It's interesting after all the noise they made about D.C. Republicans taking an interest in Texas redistricting that they are dragging a sack up in Washington to allow national Democrats to influence the process in the Lone Star State," said Ted Royer, Texas GOP spokesman.

Meanwhile in Austin, the Senate on Monday began anew trying to draw congressional maps that will add Republican seats but still comply with the Voting Rights Act.

Both Democratic receptions are being held at the Hotel Washington, but are divided to avoid violating campaign finance laws.

Tickets are $250 per person. However, organizers are suggesting sponsorships of up to $2,000 for individuals and of up to $5,000 for PACs.

The events were organized by Progressive Consulting Group of Silver Spring.

"It's a way to say stand up. Tom DeLay does not get to decide who our Congress people are, the voters of America get to make that decision. Let's take a lesson from those guys who had the courage to say so," said Karyn Strickland, president of Progressive Consulting Group.