BOR Writer Todd Hill Heads to DC as Archer Fellow

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 00:30 PM CDT

The Bill Archer Fellowship is a highly competitive and prestigious internship program named after former congressman Bill Archer.  Upon his retirement after 30 years representing the 7th Congressional District, Archer wished to leave a lasting legacy both in DC and within his alma-mater, the University of Texas higher education system.  The Archer Fellowship is considered one of the highest honors a political science major can receive within the University of Texas school system.  Todd will either intern at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, The Department of Homeland Security or the White House Office of Communications.  

The Fellowship, although prestigious, is also quite expensive. Todd is the first in his family to graduate from college and has worked very hard to support himself through college while also co-founding and leading the Mid-Cities Democrats PAC in Northeast Tarrant County.  Todd has contributed a number of great blog pieces since he joined the BOR family in early 2007 and we've been happy to have him as part of the Texas Blogosphere.  Todd will continue his writing while he is in Washington DC so we look forward to hearing his perspective and following him while he is in our nation's capitol next year.

We here at Burnt Orange Report want to show our support by helping him to raise the funds he needs to cover the expenses of the Archer Fellowship and help him live in Washington while he is away.  Todd has set a goal to raise $11,000 before he leaves in January 2010 and is already working hard toward reaching that goal, treating it like a candidate fundraising campaign (naturally).

Burnt Orange Report encourages you to chip in some money and help Todd get to Washington DC and pursue this tremendous opportunity that he has earned.  Check out Todd's website at www.hilltodc.com and learn more about Todd's contributions to the progressive movement, the Archer program, and his fundraising goals.  We hope you'll consider joining the Burnt Orange team in contributing toward Todd's fundraising goal today.    

P.S. Remember, Todd's not leaving until next year, so he's making this a multi-faceted fundraising campaign and BOR readers are not on the hook for all $11,000! Since state PACS can make contributions as well, local ones in the metroplex will be helping Todd out. That also means the TexBlog PAC could help, too. In any case, consider giving today.

Rep. Hill Takes the Podium- Motion to Vacate

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Sat May 26, 2007 at 00:14 AM CDT

Craddick doesn't recognize Hill's motion to vacate.

Craddick doesn't recognize Hill's request to appeal to ruling of the chair. 

Texas Constitution supercedes any laws or rules. Apparently, so does Tom Craddick.

Motion is not authorized under the rules. Speakers power of recognition of any member cannot be appealed. 

Denies that a privledged motion is an expection to abillity to appeal. 

Tom Craddick is a puppet.  

Something about Rule 5, Section 24. 

I have to ask, why does Craddick want to hold on to the chair when it is clear the House is in chaos. If there was still time left in the session, what would you be able to do with it at this point?

Let's elect Terry Keel as the new Speaker. It would save a lot of time and be just as productive. 

Rep. Hill's attempts fail for now. The House moves on to pending bills. But we are far from over.  

Big Changes at BOR- I'm Leaving

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman

Fri Jan 12, 2007 at 08:00 AM CST

By the time you read this, I will be in transit to the Austin airport from Fredericksburg, where I will then board a JetBlue plane with my mother and my cat bound for Boston, Massachusetts.

Yes, I'm moving to Cambridge to work for ActBlue, the clearinghouse for Democratic online fundraising, through at least 2008. I'm excited as all get out to return to an area I first experienced as Texas' Youngest Delegate to the 2004 National Convention. At the same time, it's a huge shift from my beloved Texas to which I do hope to return one day. There are too many things left undone, fights not yet fought, reforms not yet made, and victories not yet won.

But for now, I'm going to pour my energies into something I've always loved- building the infrastructure to allow Democrats wherever they may be to build the party, the brand, and the candidates that win elections. Money can be a dirty business, but ActBlue is reforming that system- equalizing the playing field for the small donor and bringing the progressive movement transparency.

As such, like Byron before me, this means big changes to Burnt Orange Report. Because I will be working in a netroots oriented trade, I'm able to retain ownership of BOR for the time being and my new role will be that of Publisher- taking care of finances, technical issues, data, and staffing with some irregular writing of my own from time to time.

Matt Glazer is taking over the Editorial Guidance of the blog for me. Phillip Martin would be joining him in that effort but both he and Ryan Goodland due to unique job conflicts working at the Legislature are going on hiatus for the remainder of the session. Phillip may write some irregular pieces like myself as his time allows.

But with every closing door there is a window opened and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. Three new writers are coming on board adding more diverse voices to BOR while keeping in line with our tradition of the youngest blogging staff in the state and our history of fighting for progressive reform in policy and the party.

Todd Hill, a student at the University of Texas-Arlington writes for the Mid-Cities Democrats and is active in the Tarrant County Stonewall Democrats and Tarrant County Young Democrats. Involved in Wes Clark's PAC and Bob Gammage's Gubernatorial bid, I think you'll be at home with Todd as he joins us here at BOR.

Sam Jones recently graduated from the University of North Texas and is part of the leadership committee for Denton County. Inspired into Democratic politics by Chris Bell, he was deputy North Texas Field Director under Josh Berthume who just launched The Texas Blue project. That team helped found a Young Democrats chapter and then raise $10,000 for Bell. With the addition of Sam and Todd, BOR will finally be able to fill the gaping hole that has been the Metroplex in our staff.

Glen Maxey is someone that most all of you are already familiar with, be you Establishment types or more grassrootsy. I've been proud to be mentored by Glen, work with him on probably a dozen campaigns in 3 years, and serve with him on the Democracy for Texas steering committee. I've personally asked Glen to come on board BOR to write when the inspiration strikes as he's the most knowledgeable technocrat/rules/history/legislation guy around with a story behind just about every thing you can imagine in Texas politics.

I want to thank all of you- the readers, the writers, fellow bloggers, and individually Al Gore, John Courage, and Howard Dean who collectively got me into politics and kept me there. One doesn't just happen to fall into the addiction of blogging 40 hours a week (literally) without some pure driven hope behind it all.

I may be moving into the land of Blue Bloods, but I'll always bleed Burnt Orange and be reading the Report.

And this is only the beginning.