Common Cause Texas
Common Cause
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Our agenda for 2009 includes:
Fighting Voter Suppression
The House elections committee chaired by Hurst Republican Todd Smith voted 5-4 on May 13 in favor of legislation that will prevent thousands of eligible citizens from voting by significantly restricting the forms of ID that can be showed at polling places. Chairman Smith reneged on his promise to soften the provisions in the spirit of compromise. Instead, the Elections Committee passed a hard-edged and draconian bill with none of the discussed compromise language.
This means that the fate of voter suppression is in the hands of the 150-member House. Please contact your representative today. Tell your representative to put aside political gamesmanship and kill this unjustified measure.
Fair Elections for Judicial Campaigns
We have an opportunity to take a big step in favor of promoting a fairer judiciary, further removed from the taint of big-money politics. Polling has indicated a strong sentiment in favor of separating judges from having to solicit contributions. HB 3146, authored by Rep. Raphael Anchia (D) -Dallas establishes a basic system for public financing for judicial elections, a no-brainer for those of us deeply concerned with the reputation of Texas' judiciary.
Common Cause
Redistricting Reform
Texans saw firsthand the extreme political nature of drawing political districts when Tom DeLay maneuvered to redraw boundaries in 2003. Common Cause
Victories
ETHICS REFORM
• Common Cause-Texas supported creation of the Texas Ethics Commission, to enforce ethics laws and Campaign Finance regulations, determine violations and issue fines.
JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
• Common Cause-Texas won limits on contributions to judicial candidates from individuals and law firms, coupled with voluntary expenditure limits.
OPEN GOVERNMENT
• Common Cause-Texas helped pass the Public Information Act, which won citizen access to paper and electronic records with a uniform cost standard.
• Common Cause-Texas won passage of Open Meetings laws so the public’s business can not be conducted behind closed doors. Even Staff Briefings must be posted and open to the public.
• Common Cause-Texas helped pass House Rules Reforms so legislation is no longer passed at the last minute, nor secretly killed in the Calendars Committee.
• Common Cause-Texas helped pass the Sunset Process so state agencies fade into the sunset after 12 years unless the agency can rigorously justify its continued existence.
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