Tonight, Republican Representative Quico Canseco of Texas's 23rd Congressional district will be giving the Republicans' Spanish language response to the State of the Union address. Immediately following Canseco's speech, Mitt Romney will ask him to deport himself. Just kidding. But really, how many Republicans are going to listen to Canseco give a speech in Spanish? Alienating Latinos is practically a plank in the Republican party platform at this point. By the time he's done, Sheriff Joe Arpaio might be waiting on Canseco's doorstep with a shotgun to try and intimidate him into not voting.
If you're unfamiliar with the West Texas representative, here's a chance to learn more about Francisco "Quico" Canseco: tax cheat, firefighter defunder, crazy right-winger, and soon-to-be-former Congressman.
7 Things To Know About Republican Congressman Quico Canseco:
Despite record wildfires in Texas, Quico Canseco voted against increased funding for firefighters and first responders. He attacked Obama for not providing funding for Texas wildfires (which Obama did, in fact, provide) and then voted against increasing funding for FEMA firefighter assistance grants by $510 million. The new total funding would have given $390 million for firefighter assistance grants and $420 million for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. Canseco was one of only 113 members of Congress to vote against SAFER. Source: Burnt Orange Report
Canseco is funded by Wall Street, and now serves on the House Financial Services Committee. The bulk of Canseco's fundraising comes from the financial industry, which kicked in over $100,000 to his election effort. Now, he's supposed to be writing the rules to help rein in the worst Wall Street abuses. Source: Sunlight Foundation
Canseco has reportedly had $715,000 worth of federal, state, and mechanics liens levied against him in the last three decades. The liens are to recover unpaid payroll taxes and contracting fees since the early 1980s. Source: Burnt Orange Report
Canseco is supported by the American Action Network, a right-wing organization that recently sent misleading mail to senior citizens about Democrats' efforts to protect Medicare Part D and save the government $112 million dollars. Source: ThinkProgress
During redistricting, Republicans in the legislature specifically looked to draw low-performing Hispanic precincts into the 23rd district to help "shore up" Canseco's re-election chances. By including low-turnout precincts and drawing out high-turnout precincts, Republicans made district look more Latino on paper based on Hispanic surname voter registration than it is based on voting performance. Source: txredistricting.org
During his campaign in 2010, Canseco was endorsed by Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann and followed the Minnesota Republican's then-practice of refusing to debate, declining to meet with the San Antonio Express News' editorial board. Source: ThinkProgress
Canseco has avoided taking questions and talking directly with citizens during town halls. Maybe he's afraid to talk to senior citizens directly about why he supports cutting their Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Source: San Antonio Express-News
Here's the best news about Quico Canseco: he has a great Democratic challenger in State Representative Pete Gallego. Gallego was elected to the State Legislature in 1990 at age 28, and has spent his entire adult life fighting for the people of West Texas. His gigantic legislative district closely overlaps with CD-23, the district in which he's now running for Congress. Gallego is a great champion of the people. As a legislator, he has crafted and passed legislation to invest billions of dollars in public schools, secure our border, reform our criminal justice system, and support Texas veterans.
Gallego also on the DCCC's targeted Red to Blue fundraising list, which looks for the best pick-up opportunities as we fight to take back the House of Representatives. If you like Pete Gallego or you really don't like Quico Canseco, consider dropping Pete some coin here.
Republican Congressman Quico Canseco is failing the people of Texas. He votes against first responders, and wants to weaken medical coverage for senior citizens. He's a tool of the financial industry and backed by right-wingers determined to shred what's left of our social safety net. Let's hope voters sending him packing this November. Then Republicans will need to find another Spanish-speaking patsy to respond to Obama after the next State of the Union.
More news emanating from our new Congressional maps: Congressman Charlie Gonzalez announced today that he is retiring, and will not seek re-election to the 20th district. Now, former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez and State Representative Joaquin Castro are shuffling their intended seats to try and capitalize on the opportunity. From the San Antonio Express-News:
Rep. Charlie Gonzalez said Friday he will not seek re-election, a decision that will end the congressional tenure of a Democratic family whose name has been synonymous with the city of San Antonio for more than half a century. ...
It also presents a political opportunity to state Rep. Joaquín Castro, twin brother of San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro. The Democrat likely will seek Gonzalez's 20th Congressional District seat, his spokesman Cary Clack said.
Former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, another Democrat, is eyeing the newly redrawn 35th district in which Castro originally intended to run.
"It's about having lived in this district almost my entire life," said Rodriguez, who previously served in the 28th district before being ousted by Rep. Henry Bonilla, D-Laredo, and in the 23rd district before losing to Rep. Quico Canseco, R-San Antonio.
Previously, Rodriguez had announced his intentions to contest the 23rd district, which he lost to Quico "I Vote Against Cops and Firefighters" Canseco in 2010. State Representative Pete Gallego had also announced intentions to run for the seat.
Let's look at the districts and the share of the vote each gave Barack Obama and Bill White, as well as the share of Spanish-surname voter registration:
Castro, in moving from the new 35th to the 20th, will now be running in a district that is more comfortably Democratic in both Presidential and Gubernatorial cycles. Ciro moves from a tough primary and tough general election battle to what is likely to be at least an easier November match-up and easier hold in non-Presidential cycles. This was a smart move for Ciro, who will no longer face a primary against State Representative Pete Gallego, who has represented much of the turf that makes up CD-23 in the Legislature as the 74th district for the past 20 years.
Gallego, who has already started fundraising for the 23rd, will face a general election opponent in Canseco. Arguably if Gallego can avoid a tough primary battle for what is still a swing district, that helps Democrats conserve resources and win even more seats next November.
Both the 20th and 35th should be solid Democratic seats. So it remains to be seen if either Castro or Rodriguez will draw a primary challenger. Any rumors?
Meanwhile, a special note of thanks to Congressman Gonzalez for his long service to San Antonio, following in the footsteps of his father, Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez. He also currently chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. It is exciting to see a new generation of leaders running for these seats, but it's also sad, in a way, to lose so much seniority and institutional memory. Best of luck to Gonzalez as he looks towards his future!
If you think you are having a bad day, just be thankful you aren't a Gtech lobbyist.
BOR has learned that Chairman Pete Gallego asked the Texas Lottery Commission for documents yesterday in response to a letter he received last month from Chairman Garnet Coleman (that BOR reported on here). The entire Gallego letter to the Texas Lottery Commission is attached.
There are three primary issues that seem to be the focus of the Gallego letter.
First, Gallego asks for information regarding the recent RFP process where Gtech employed the same company who the Texas Lottery Commission employed to write the bidding rules. Some might argue that keeping a consultant on your payroll that is simultaneously helping write the rules for a contract you are bidding on might represent a conflict of interest and give one bidder an unfair advantage over others. I wonder why the Lottery Commission neither policed nor punished this action? Gallego wants documents relating to that question.
According to the Gallego letter:
Legislators must have access to current and accurate information in order to make informed decisions regarding all available state revenue during the next session. Hence, I write to request information from you and the Texas Lottery Commission that essentially falls into three separate categories.
I want to be sure your recent RFP process was fair and untainted by even the appearance of impropriety. I was surprised to read that the same company that you hired to help write the RFP was also being employed by the current operator of the lottery (who is also bidding for the new contract). Given this set of facts, I want to guarantee that no bidder obtained an unfair advantage over others. Please send me any documentation you have available regarding the RFP process, including the individuals who helped write the process. I ask that you include all documentation which shows weaknesses in the process that might allow for inappropriate conduct or conflict of interest in the RFP process.
The second issue Gallego raises is pretty straightforward. If the statistics outlined in this Austin American-Statesman article are anywhere close to accurate, then by any objective measurement, Gtech is doing a terrible job managing the Lottery. The empirical evidence regarding who is playing the lottery, how much poor players are spending, the number of tickets being sold, and the amount of money going to schools all suggest that Gtech is significantly underperforming. The numbers are the numbers - and Gtech can't hide the fact that they are taking more money from poorer people to put less money into public education.
I wish I could get paid $100 million to underperform this badly.
According to the Gallego letter:
If it is your opinion that the current operator is operating the lottery at an optimum level, please send me any information and data you deem relevant to both defend and to counter that argument. I would like from you some context to the disturbing numbers and data points referenced above in the Austin American-Statesman article. I'd also like some explanation as to why it appears that you are relying on poorer Texans to spend more money on lottery tickets, only to then give less money to our schools. If these figures are accurate, what is the current vendor doing to rectify this trend?
The third issue for which Gallego seeks information relates to promises Gtech is making to other states where it hopes to run lotteries. For example, if you look at what Gtech is promising to Illinois, why can't they do that exact same thing in Texas? Why can't they promise more for less in Texas? I promise you, with a $30 billion deficit, and a new crop of right-wing extremists Republicans chomping at the bit to cut to the bone spending on public education, Texas kids could benefit from a more efficient and effective lottery operation.
According to the Gallego letter:
If the current operator of our lottery can promise more revenue to a different state at a lesser cost, why doesn't Texas have that same deal? Who was responsible for negotiating this contract? Please give me your thoughts on how Texas, during these dire economic times, can get more for less, especially since it appears that Gtech is offering a better deal elsewhere.
I will be interested to see how the Texas Lottery Commission handles this request for information from Gallego. I think they would be wise to cooperate fully with Chairman Gallego and his Select Committee because he can cross-examine with the best of them. We will post any response from the Texas Lottery Commission and/or Gtech that we are able to obtain.
You can read the entire letter from Rep. Pete Gallego here (pdf).
In a letter to Chairman Pete Gallego sent yesterday afternoon, Chairman Garnet Coleman has requested a hearing and investigation into the Texas Lottery and its $100 million contract with GTECH.
From the Coleman letter:
I am writing to ask that your Select Committee immediately investigate exactly what the state is getting for the $100 million per year we are paying to Gtech. Why are fewer people playing the lottery? Why are Texans who can least afford it spending more, proportionally, on tickets? Are low-income Texans being targeted deliberately? If more tickets are being sold, why are schools getting less money?
Ever since Texas implemented the lottery and hired GTECH as the operator, it has been a constant source of controversy.
Earlier this year, Kelley Shannon with the AP reported on an apparent conflict of interest where GTECH was paying a consultant who was simultaneously helping write the Lottery RFP. I guess that is one way to increase your chances of being the winning bidder – hire the guys writing the rules.
In 1994, 70 percent of adult Texans reported buying tickets. Today, it's closer to 40 percent, meaning the lottery must extract more dollars from fewer people to keep raising the same amount of money. In 2004, the state's estimated 9 million lottery players each spent an average of $390. Last year, an estimated 7.4 million players averaged $500 each.
The state has become increasingly dependent on instant scratch-off games, which today generate 75 cents of every lottery dollar. Yet such games are more likely to be played by "less educated and lower income" residents, according to the Texas Lottery Commission's research. The latest analysis found that "unemployed (players) were more likely to purchase scratch off tickets than employed and retired" players.
Because the state's take is smaller on instant tickets, it must sell more to make the same profit. Last year, the lottery sold nearly $700 million more in tickets than in 1998 — and gave schools $160 million less.
As a percentage of education spending, the lottery's contribution is shrinking. In 1996, lottery proceeds paid for about two weeks of schooling for Texas students. This year, the money raised by the lottery will barely cover three days.
As we enter a legislative session where Texas faces an $18-21 billion budget deficit, Coleman is exactly correct; the GTECH lottery contract must be scrutinized.
We hear more elected officials will weigh in on this issue in the next few days and ask Gallego for hearings. We will keep you posted on additional developments.
Update: Just got my hands on the full letter. Read the request in full here.
Our money’s on Perry as the victor in the March primary, if only for the anti-Washington sentiment swirling around the state. But he won’t emerge unscathed. As the primary takes its toll on his public image, doors open for the likely Democratic candidate, well-liked Houston Mayor Bill White, whose energy and planning initiatives, along with his economic management, have won him broad favor. By building a coalition of Hispanics, independents, and moderate Republicans from Texas’s growing, more Democrat-friendly urban centers, White will waltz into the governor’s mansion. But just barely.
Along with their prediction, they post the following video from PBS Houston:
Secondly, White received the endorsement of three House Democratic leaders today -- State Representatives Garnet Coleman, Jim Dumman, and Pete Gallego. The three issued the following joint-statement:
We are excited to partner with Bill White in his campaign to bring leadership to our state and meet Texas’ tough economic challenges. In Rick Perry’s decade of failure, our state’s budget has given away millions in special interest hand-outs when we should have been investing in sensible solutions that benefit everyday Texans. Texas needs leaders who put partisanship aside and let government work for the best interests of its people, and Bill White will do that as Governor.
Reps. Coleman, Dunnam, and Gallego released individual statements of support, as well. Each focused on economic issues -- an encouraging sign, to be sure. All three House Democrats have led the fight for public policy throughout the decade, and if they are coming out on White's behalf to challenge Perry on economic issues, then we should expect that -- at least at the top of the ticket -- we will have a true policy discussion on the economic challenges Perry has laid before the state.
With the announcement that Tom Schieffer is officially out of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, several of his highest-profile Democratic supporters released a statement today. From Representatives Garnet Coleman of Houston, Jim Dunnam of Waco, Jessica Farrar of Houston and Pete Gallego of Alpine (emphasis mine):
"We thank Tom for his steadfast support of Democratic principles, and the sacrifices that he and his wife have made over the last eight months as they traveled across Texas, addressing our states' crisis of leadership.
"We were proud to endorse Tom to serve as the next governor of Texas because he was willing to address issues and concerns that are important to Texas families - public education, jobs, children's health insurance, rising college tuition, energy, protecting the environment and transportation.
"The Democratic Party is still the only one that offers a chance for real change in Texas. Texans still deserve better than one Republican who wants to be governor for life and another who thinks the governor's mansion is a retirement home.
"We look forward to moving our state forward and redoubling our efforts to bring real leadership back to the state of Texas."
These four elected officials are tremendous progressive leaders in the statehouse. Their support of Schieffer carried significant weight, and perhaps prevented many Democrats from initially dismissing the Bush-voting former representative. As the race progresses, it will be interesting to see where their support moves. Previously, Reps. Coleman, Farrar, and Gallego had endorsed Mayor Bill White in his Senatorial bid.
Currently, with White not yet officially in the race and Shami and Gilbert averring that they will stay in the race, these become strong endorsements of the person who may be perceived as the next "establishment candidate," given the clout and respect these four carry amongst the progressive community.
Keep your eyes peeled, folks! This one is far from over just yet.
Compared to the Rick Perry vs. Kay Bailey Hutchison primed up bloodbath, attackfest, the Democratic ticket has been quiet and to a lesser degree, boring. Things have been so slow, bloggers and activists have started draft movements for Senators Leticia Van De Putte and Kirk Watson and former Austin District Attorney Ronnie Earle.
In the past 24 hours, there has been movement in the Governor's race on the Democratic side.
Yesterday, potential Agriculture Commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert announced he was interested in the top job instead. Today, Tom Schieffer show significant signs of life in the same place he started his race 6 months ago. Even Kinky Friedman sent an email out to his campaign list for the first time in months today.
State Representatives Garnet Coleman, Jim Dunnam, Jessica Farrar, and Pete Gallego joined Senfronia Thompson in endorsing Ambassador Schieffer.
"I am gratified by this broad base of Democratic support," Schieffer said. "These leaders have long been in the forefront - often fighting against strong Republican opposition - of efforts to improve education, make quality health care available to more Texans, improve our transportation system and lower insurance rates and utility bills. Together, we can reverse this race to the bottom and improve the quality of life for Texas families."
These endorsements represent an interesting cross section in the Texas House. Besides representing diverse parts of the state, each is a distinct leader in the state legislature.
Coleman chairs the Legislative Study Group, a nonpartisan caucus dedicated to the development of sound public policy for Texas families. Dunnam chairs the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, which played a key role in allocating federal stimulus dollars during the recent legislative session. Farrar is the current chair of the House Democratic Caucus and the founder and vice chair of the Women's Health Caucus and founder and secretary of the House Environmental Caucus. Gallego is a former chair of the House Democratic Caucus and former chair of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus.
When Burnt Orange Report met with Schieffer in July we talked half the time about his Democratic credentials and half the time about policy. The elected officials endorsed him spent the entire time talking about Schieffer's qualifications and drawing a strong comparison between the Ambassador and his Republican counter parts, but the discussion of Democratic credentials were front and center.
"We are proud to endorse Ambassador Tom Schieffer to serve as the next governor of Texas because he is addressing issues and concerns that are important to Texas families - public education, jobs, children's health insurance, rising college tuition, energy, protecting the environment and transportation," Coleman said. "Tom Schieffer is going to be the next governor of Texas because he cares about solving real problems for Texas families."
Jim Dunnam made his statement after Coleman.
"Democrats across Texas can be proud to support Tom Schieffer - a fellow, lifelong Democrat who has never missed voting in a Democratic primary since he was old enough to vote in 1968," said Dunnam, the House Democratic Leader.
"Tom's service to our country during the previous administration doesn't change that," Dunnam added. "Texans deserve better than one Republican who wants to be governor for life and another who thinks the governor's mansion is a retirement home. That is why Democrats across the state will unite behind Tom Schieffer."
During press questions, Rep. Dunnam added, "we aren't a litmus test party. For us to have a candidate who is independently minded is positive."
"Tom Schieffer will be the next governor of Texas because he is a proven leader, not an ideologue," Gallego said. "His successful record as a lawyer, businessman and diplomat proves he will bring people together from across the political spectrum and put the needs of Texas and Texans ahead of narrow partisan and ideological interests."
Of course the question was asked whether Schieffer's Democratic credentials were a concern to any of the endorsers. None of them said it was an issue. Garnet Coleman went as far as to say that he couldn't disagree with any person who voted for a friend and business partner. Senfronia Thompson added her belief many Democrats have voted for a Republican but Schieffer was one of the few to be honest about it. Dunnam followed up with the fact he viewed it as a strength.
Will that stop the question? Only time will tell but now there is a chorus standing behind Schieffer and the backing of the House leaders allowed him to sum up how he will approach this race.
"This is the Democratic Party's first opportunity to win in a long time. The Republican Party has been bankrupt by its leader," Schieffer said. Nobody is entitled to anything. You have to earn it."
Questions may still exist about Schieffer, but with a Democratic primary looming and a campaign being organized, voters and activist may get their answers sooner than later.
Republicans control the House so there should be a Republican slant in the committees and with Republican chairs. Seems logical.
Texas Insider has a story outlining exactly where the Gang of 11 were put:
District 7: Rep. Tommy Merritt - Chair of Public Safety
District 10: Rep. Jim Pitts - Chair of Appropriations
District 15: Rep. Rob Eissler - Chair of Public Education
District 17: Rep. Byron Cook - Chair of Environmental Regulation
District 44: Rep. Edmund Kuempel - Chair of Licensing & Administrative Procecures
District 60: Rep. Jim Keffer - Chair of Energy Resources
District 65: Rep. Burt Solomons - Chair of State Affairs
District 66: Rep. Brian McCall - Chair of Calendars
District 83: Rep. Delwin Jones - Chair of Redistricting
District 99: Rep. Charlie Geren - Chair of House Administration
District 121: Rep. Joe Straus - Speaker of the House
That means the gang of 11 control the three most important committee's Calendars, Appropriations, and State Affairs.
Texas Insider aptly describes the committees as:
Calendars - controls the order and placement of bills on appropriate calendars.
State Affairs - oversees bills on hot button social issues such as abortion rights and Voter ID.
Appropriations - jurisdiction over all bills that request money to or from the state treasury.
That makes sense, the Gang of 11 chose Straus and with the Democrats, pushed Straus to victory. What doesn't make sense are the hyper partisan committee creations Straus made.
The best example is Criminal Jurisprudence which is filled with conservative Republicans who pushed for tort reform. Another committee that signaled how dismissive Straus was to Democrats is the Elections committee. As one lobbyist pointed out, the Elections committee under Todd Smith could produce some very scary legislation.
Phi has already aptly pointed out the structure of the Elections Committee virtually guarantees voter ID legislation gets to the floor.
Straus has marginalized key House Democratic leaders too.
After Rep Jim Dunnam secured nearly 70 votes for anyone to challenge Tom Craddick, he is placed on Environmental Regulation and Transportation. Dunnam did get a nice megaphone to attack Rick Perry's refusal to accept federal aide as Chair of the select committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, but it comes with out a natural base of support unlike State Affairs or Regulated Industries.
Another good example is Rep. Senfronia Thompson. Thompson was a candidate for Speaker and an early endorser of Straus. She is currently serving her 17th term. What committee assignments did she receive? Insurance, Licensing & Administrative Procedures (Vice Chair), and Local & Consent Calendars (Chair). The Local and Consent Calendar Committee is were non-controversial bills go if they have received unanimous support in committee. This is a thankless job and is one of the weakest chair positions Straus could give out. Rep. Thompson is too good to be chair of this thankless committee.
Straus also showed that he was willing to be as partisan as past Republicans. He painted a nice target on freshmen Democrats giving them lower weaker committees. Democrats like Kristi Thibaut, Robert Miklos, Chris Turner and others will do incredible work in smaller committees. One Democratic freshman got some solid committee assignments-Diana Maldonado.
Maldonado was placed on the powerful State Affairs committee and Defense & Veterans' Affairs.
As the same lobbyist put it, this is because Williamson County is trending too rapidly to the Democratic Party. Maldonado won a tough election in an open race. Now she is an incumbent and Annie's List incumbent at that. With work from WilCo and Travis County Democrats, Diana should be fine.
On the other hand, Todd Hunter is being propped up.
After winning a close election against Juan Garcia, Hunter was given three committee assignments and one chairmanship. Hunter will be on the General Investigating & Ethics and Insurance Committees and will chair Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence. This is a double slap to Democrats. Garcia campaigns on reforming the Insurance Commissioner's office and making that an elected position and was backed by the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
Now we know how Straus feels about both of those things.
Straus is better than Craddick. That is absolutely true. However, Straus as Speaker shows how important it is for us to take back the House. If we want to really stop Voter ID, reregulate tuition, or provide insurance for all of Texas' children, a Democrat needs to hold the House gavel.
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) elected its officers today.
MALC is one of the largest non-partisan caucus in the state legislature. It was recently chaired by Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine), but today the members elected new leadership.
Trey Martinez Fischer, the former vice-chair, will take the helm as Chairman. Abel Herrero, former Legal Counsel is the new Vice Chairman. Newly elected State House member Diana Maldonado will serve as Secretary. Solomon Ortiz Jr. was elected as Treasurer and Veronica Gonzales will become the new Legal Counsel.
Ortiz stated in a press release, "It is an honor to serve my colleagues in a leadership role as MALC Treasurer. MALC has shown time and again that is a force to be reckoned with legislatively and an important advocate for the Hispanic community and all Texans."
MALC was founded in 1973, it is a non-profit, non-partisan organization composed of over 40 members of the Texas House of Representatives committed to addressing the issues that Latinos face across the state of Texas.
Rep. Gallego is currently running for Speaker of the Texas House and for disclosure purposes employed me during the 80th Session.
The resurgence of the Democratic Party has never been more clear than now. With 8 days until the election, the House Democratic Campaign Committee (HDCC) has spent $1,000,000 since July 1 to support Democrats running for election and re-election to the Texas House.
When the HDCC started in 2004, it had one contract employee, a few thousand dollars in the bank and a 26 seat deficit in numbers. No one imagined taking back the House in 3 election cycles was remotely possible. Because of the numbers and a punitive redistricting map, we thought a 10 year plan was optimistic, and only hopelessly delusional optimists thought about a majority by 2009 (apologies to Lon).
What started initially as a simple idea to form a PAC where House Democrats could help fellow Democratic members has grown to become one of the most trusted, respected and impressive political operations in Texas. You should be proud to be part of that effort.
The truth of the matter is HDCC is one of the biggest reasons why we are on the brink of taking back the Texas House. They have committed to working with newly elected Democrats and guide them through the process. They have had laser focus before and during elections to win swing seats. All the headaches Tom Craddick and Terry Keel have on a daily basis, are because of the HDCC and it's leaders.
While Tom Craddick has lost control of his 26-seat majority in his tenure as Speaker of the House, Jim Dunnam, Pete Gallego, and Garnet Coleman have picked up seats every cycle since creating the HDCC.
One State Republican Executive Committee Member, Mark McCraig said in a recent editorial, "What was once a 26-seat Republican majority in 2003 has dwindled to an eight-seat majority today, and that number will almost certainly shrink again this year."
McCraig goes one step further in his editorial in the Stateman:
An ethical cloud also surrounds Craddick because of his close ties to lobbyists. Last year, Craddick and a prominent lobbyist were sued by a tour company after a dispute over a fishing trip to Brazil that Craddick and the lobbyist had canceled. Financial disclosure forms filed by Craddick also show a business relationship with a lobbyist whose identity he refuses to disclose. In light of recent scandals, grass-roots Republicans must demand that their leaders act in a manner that is beyond reproach.
In nearly 40 years in the Legislature, Craddick helped build the Republican Party and the conservative movement in Texas. Unfortunately, his recent actions have cast a shadow on years of public service, and he must recognize that the best way to promote the Republican Party and the conservative values he claims to represent is to allow a new speaker to serve.
Rather than having a Tom Craddick appointed successor, it is time to have a Democrat lead the House.
As the letter points out:
One million dollars is a heck of a lot of money - particularly in the face of our opposition. It is the tangible result of tireless work done by Texas Democrats who want to restore a sense of balance to the Texas House. You should know that the confidence shown us by donors is really a direct result of our Caucus unity demonstrated session after session in the face of adversity. They saw us fighting the good fight, persevering in the face of overwhelming odds and standing tall for the people of Texas. Our unity of voice and effort has not been in vain.
In a point of personal privilege, I want to thank Rep. Dunnam, Rep. Gallego, Rep. Coleman, and the hard working staff at HDCC for everything y'all have done this year and the harder ones before.
That being said, we have one week left, let's take back the House today!
To read the full letter from Jim Dunnam, Pete Gallego, and Garnet Coleman to the Democratic Caucus, click here (warning it is a pdf).
Let's look at the districts and the share of the vote each gave Barack Obama and Bill White, as well as the share of Spanish-surname voter registration:
