Sunday, December 18, 2016
Running For Elected Office In 2018
The Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 Texas primary election to nominate candidates for the Tuesday, November 6th, 2018 general election is quickly approaching. All Republican and Democratic primary candidates must file an application with their respective party's county or state chairperson to have their name placed on the party's primary ballot.
The 2018 primary election filing period runs from Saturday, November 11, 2017 through the filing deadline date of Monday, December 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM. An application for the office of precinct chair may be filed from the 90th day before the date of the regular filing deadline - Tuesday, September 12, 2017. (Texas election code Sec. 172.023.)
It's My Earned Benefit, Not My "Entitlement"
By Rob Tornoe - You can find more of his work here.
Remember, not only did you contribute to Social Security but your employer did too. It totaled a percentage of your income before taxes. If you averaged only 30K over your 49 year working life, that’s close to $220,500.If you calculate the future value of $4,500 per year (yours & your employer’s contribution) at a simple 5% (less than what the govt. pays on the money that it borrows), after 49 years of working you’d have $892,919.98.
If you took out only 3% per year, you would receive $26,787.60 per year and it would last better than 30 years, and that’s with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit! If you bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, you’d have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month.
Who Will Chair The Democratic National Committee?
Democrats will elect a new Democratic National Committee Chairperson in 2017. The choice is to triple down on strategies of the past 25 years, verses a bold new vision for the future, as advocated by DNC chair candidate Rep. Keith Ellison.
The centrist 3rd way vision of the Democratic National Committee's past leadership, encapsulated by the tenure of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fla.) as DNC chair, led to Republicans gaining control of 71 of the nation’s 99 state legislative chambers and 14 governors' offices from the time Pres Obama took office through the 2016 election.
Democrats lost another net 43 seats in legislatures across the country in 2016, after previously loosing 910 seats during Obama's administration. Democrats now hold majorities in only 29 state legislative chambers. Republicans gained 2 more states' governorships in 2016, after already gaining 12 over the last 8 years, increasing its total to 33, a record high last seen in 1922.
Democrats had also lost 69 US House seats and 13 US Senate seats and barely managed to stem further losses in 2016. And now Democrats face a more challenging election map in 2018 than they faced in 2016. All that after Democrats had a 58-seat majority in the Senate, 256 seats in the House, and held 28 governorships when Barack Obama took office in 2009.
The centrist 3rd way vision of the Democratic National Committee's past leadership, encapsulated by the tenure of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-Fla.) as DNC chair, led to Republicans gaining control of 71 of the nation’s 99 state legislative chambers and 14 governors' offices from the time Pres Obama took office through the 2016 election.
Democrats lost another net 43 seats in legislatures across the country in 2016, after previously loosing 910 seats during Obama's administration. Democrats now hold majorities in only 29 state legislative chambers. Republicans gained 2 more states' governorships in 2016, after already gaining 12 over the last 8 years, increasing its total to 33, a record high last seen in 1922.
Democrats had also lost 69 US House seats and 13 US Senate seats and barely managed to stem further losses in 2016. And now Democrats face a more challenging election map in 2018 than they faced in 2016. All that after Democrats had a 58-seat majority in the Senate, 256 seats in the House, and held 28 governorships when Barack Obama took office in 2009.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
DMN Endorses Democratic Presidential Nominee, For The First Time Since WWII
In an editorial published today, the DMN Editorial Board said: "We recommend Hillary Clinton for president -- There is only one serious candidate on the presidential ballot in November. We recommend Hillary Clinton."
The editorial board had endorsed the Republican nominee in every presidential election dating back to World War II, except for the 1964 election when it remained neutral between Democratic President Texan native Lyndon B. Johnson and Republican challenger Barry Goldwater. While acknowledging its past issues with Clinton's handling of "certain issues," the editorial board contrasted her "experience in actual governance" to Trump. "Resume vs. resume, judgment vs. judgment, this election is no contest," the op-ed continued, making note of the host of Republican hands backing Clinton, including Jim Glassman, the founding director of the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas.
"Hillary Clinton has spent years in the trenches doing the hard work needed to prepare herself to lead our nation," the editorial board concludes. "In this race, at this time, she deserves your vote."
The editorial board had endorsed the Republican nominee in every presidential election dating back to World War II, except for the 1964 election when it remained neutral between Democratic President Texan native Lyndon B. Johnson and Republican challenger Barry Goldwater. While acknowledging its past issues with Clinton's handling of "certain issues," the editorial board contrasted her "experience in actual governance" to Trump. "Resume vs. resume, judgment vs. judgment, this election is no contest," the op-ed continued, making note of the host of Republican hands backing Clinton, including Jim Glassman, the founding director of the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas.
DMN: "We don't come to this decision easily. This newspaper has not recommended a Democrat for the nation's highest office since before World War II — if you're counting, that's more than 75 years and nearly 20 elections. The party's over-reliance on government and regulation to remedy the country's ills is at odds with our belief in private-sector ingenuity and innovation. Our values are more about individual liberty, free markets and a strong national defense."Pronouncing Trump's values as "hostile to conservatism," the newspaper wrote that the Republican nominee "plays on fear — exploiting base instincts of xenophobia, racism and misogyny — to bring out the worst in all of us, rather than the best." In a separate editorial the DMN editorial board pronounced, "Donald Trump is not qualified to serve as president and does not deserve your vote."
"Hillary Clinton has spent years in the trenches doing the hard work needed to prepare herself to lead our nation," the editorial board concludes. "In this race, at this time, she deserves your vote."
Monday, June 27, 2016
Next President Will Define U.S. Supreme Court to 2040
Supreme Court justices, federal court of appeals judges, and federal district court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate, as required in the U.S. Constitution. The next president we elect could very well appoint four to five Supreme Court Justices and many dozens of federal court judges.
SCOTUS Says No To Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) Laws
In a 5-3 ruling on Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court strikes down Texas' House Bill 2 (HB2) abortion regulation law, finding it places an "undue burden" on women's constitution right to make their own reproductive health care decisions.
This case challenged the constitutionality of two provisions of the HB2 law regulating abortion in Texas. One provision requires doctors who perform abortions to have privileges to admit patients to a local hospital; the other requires abortion clinics to have facilities that are comparable to outpatient surgical centers. Inside the courtroom, lawyers for the state of Texas' tell the judges HB2 provisions are constitutional because they are intended to protect women’s health. Outside the courtroom, state leaders like Texas Governor Greg Abbott have admitted that the law is intended to limit abortion as much as possible.
This case challenged the constitutionality of two provisions of the HB2 law regulating abortion in Texas. One provision requires doctors who perform abortions to have privileges to admit patients to a local hospital; the other requires abortion clinics to have facilities that are comparable to outpatient surgical centers. Inside the courtroom, lawyers for the state of Texas' tell the judges HB2 provisions are constitutional because they are intended to protect women’s health. Outside the courtroom, state leaders like Texas Governor Greg Abbott have admitted that the law is intended to limit abortion as much as possible.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
BlogTalkUSA: The Next Generation of Texas Voters
On our Tuesday evening BlogTalkUSA.com program "Eyes Wide Open - Dem Blog Talk," this week, my co-host Rheana Nevitt Piegols and I talked with Celia Morgan, President of the Texas Young Democrats organization and Vice-Chair of the Young Democrats of America Labor Caucus.
We talked with Celia about the Texas Young Democrats caucus at the Texas State Democratic Convention last week, the growing Texas Young Democrats engagement in the political process, and Celia's election to be a delegate for Bernie Sanders at Democratic National Convention.
Click to listen to our podcast:
Listen or download - MP3
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Discriminatory Texas Photo Voter ID Law Remains In Effect
Updated March 9, 2016
The full U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to take up the Texas voter ID case Wednesday, further drawing out the law’s years long review by the federal court system on whether it violates the rights of certain voters. Multiple federal courts have already ruled the law has the intent and effect of violating voters' rights, but it remains alive under repeated appeals by the state of Texas.
The 5th Circuit's decision to hear the case, Veasey v. Abbott, en banc comes more than six months after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the full court to review a 5th circuit three-judge panel's ruling that the law has a “discriminatory effect” that violates the Voting Rights Act. Many believe the 5th Circuit, which has the most conservative judges of any US circuit court, will reverse the ruling of its three judge panel. Either way, the en banc decision will be appealed to SCOTUS. It's my opinion the appeals process will continue well beyond the November election this year, which means the ID law will remain in effect for the presidential general election. For the history of the law's journey through the federal court system, follow the link.
Publish Date September 24, 2015
Despite being found discriminatory and unconstitutional three times by three federal courts, Texas' SB14 photo voter ID law remains in effect, pending ongoing appeals by the state of Texas.
On Wednesday August 5, 2015, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans unanimously agreed with U.S. Southern District Court Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos' October 2014 finding that Texas’ SB14 photo voter ID law has a discriminatory effect on black and Latino voters, and therefore violates section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Judge Ramos struck down Texas' voter photo I.D. law with a 147-page finding issued on October 9, 2014, but the ruling was stayed pending state of Texas' appeal to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. A Fifth Circuit three-judge panel heard the appeal on April 28, 2015.
In its decision on August 5th, the three-judge Fifth Circuit panel remanded the case back to the U.S. Southern District Court ordering Judge Ramos to fashion a specific legal remedy that recognizes legislators declared interest to prevent voter fraud in passing the SB14 law.
In other words, rather than just throw out the entire SB14 law, the Fifth Circuit told Judge Ramos to amend the language of the SB14 law to remedy its discriminatory effect. Such a remedy, for example, could be to reinstate the acceptance at the polls of certain additional forms of identification, such as the Voter Registration Card, that is issued to every registered voter.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Supreme Court To Hear Texas Abortion Case
Updated Monday, February 29, 2016 @ 8:00 PM
The Supreme Court this week will hear arguments in the Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt case, which challenges the 2013 House Bill 2 Texas law threatening to close 13 of the 20 women's health care clinics that remain open in Texas. In addition to other reproductive health care services, those clinics provide abortions in the state.
This case challenges the constitutionality of two provisions of the HB2 law regulating abortion in Texas. One provision requires doctors who perform abortions to have privileges to admit patients to a local hospital; the other requires abortion clinics to have facilities that are comparable to outpatient surgical centers. Inside the courtroom, lawyers for the state of Texas' tell the judges HB2 provisions are constitutional because they are intended to protect women’s health. Outside the courtroom, state leaders like Texas Governor Greg Abbott have admitted that the law is intended to limit abortion as much as possible.
Last June, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned a federal district judge's October 2013 ruling that HB2 violates the constitutional rights of women who seek an abortion as one of their reproductive health care options. The Fifth Circuit's ruling would have allowed the state to immediately enforce all provisions of HB2.
Immediately following that Fifth Circuit ruling, the Supreme Court granted plaintiff's petition asking the high court to temporarily blocked that appellate court's ruling, and Texas' enforcement of the HB2 law, pending appeal. The plaintiffs argue the law offers little to no medical benefits to women and that the real intent of the law is to close clinics and limit women’s access to abortions.
The Fifth Circuit gave a sweeping 56 page endorsement of Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) law legislation anti-abortion lawmakers in Texas and other states have adopted in recent years to make abortion unavailable.
Original Post Date June 29, 2015
In a 5-4 order, the Supreme Court today temporarily blocked a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that was set to close all but nine abortion clinics in Texas by July 1. All 20 abortion clinics open in Texas today will be able to remain open as a result of this temporary order. The Chief Justice, Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas, and Justice Alito opposed the application, according to the Supreme Court's order about the case, Whole Woman's Health, et al. v. Cole, Comm'r, TX DHS, et al.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Collin County 2016 Primary Early Voting Turnout
A total of 74,502 Dem and Rep primary ballots were cast early in Collin Co. through Friday, Feb 26th. Voter traffic on Friday was the heaviest to date with 22,334 ballots cast at early voting centers across the county. The ratio of Early to Election Day turnout will likely be about 50/50, so we will likely see about 75k total votes cast in Collin Co. Texas on Super Tuesday, for a grand total of 150,000 Dem and Rep primary ballots cast. That is well above the official turnout planning estimate of 100,000.
The 2016 cumulative early voting total of 74,502 in-person ballots cast through Friday compares to prior primary year full 11 day early voting totals of:
Out of 500k currently registered voters, 47,907 have voted only in a prior Democratic Party primary, and 79,185 have voted in a prior Republican primary.
This year, 6,859 first time primary voters voted in the Democratic primary and 18,813 first time primary voters voted in the Republican primary.
Of the 47,907 who have voted only in a prior Democratic primary, 7,977 voted early in the 2016 primary. Of the 79,185 who have voted only in a prior Republican primary, 31,795 turned out early in 2016.
Crossover party voting was minimal with 484 prior Republican only voters voting in the Democratic primary, and 2,535 Democrats only voting in the Republican primary.
Of the 11,943 prior swing party primary voters, 4,712 voted Republican and 1,213 voted Democratic Party ballots this year.
Collin County 2016 primary turnout at early voting locations through Friday Feb 26th.
Early primary turnout on Friday 2/26 for the top few EV voting centers:
The 2016 cumulative early voting total of 74,502 in-person ballots cast through Friday compares to prior primary year full 11 day early voting totals of:
- 2014 R+D = 30,263
- 2012 R+D = 28,288
- 2008 R+D = 59,033 (Rep: 23,368 - Dem: 35,665)
Age Group |
VAP | Reg Voters |
% VAP Reg |
Total Voted |
Voted Dem |
% Dem | Voted Rep |
% Rep |
18-19 | 25,548 | 15,453 | 60% | 1,133 | 464 | 0.62% | 669 | 0.90% |
20-24 | 50,490 | 37,243 | 74% | 1,831 | 860 | 1.16% | 971 | 1.31% |
25-29 | 48,949 | 33,748 | 69% | 1,646 | 698 | 0.94% | 948 | 1.27% |
30-34 | 65,262 | 37,971 | 58% | 2,592 | 912 | 1.23% | 1,680 | 2.26% |
35-39 | 74,045 | 45,119 | 61% | 3,468 | 1,073 | 1.44% | 2,395 | 3.22% |
40-44 | 80,977 | 54,029 | 67% | 5,202 | 1,362 | 1.83% | 3,840 | 5.16% |
45-49 | 72,580 | 57,287 | 79% | 6,897 | 1,554 | 2.09% | 5,343 | 7.18% |
50-54 | 67,865 | 54,993 | 81% | 8,615 | 1,733 | 2.33% | 6,882 | 9.25% |
55-59 | 53,330 | 47,295 | 89% | 9,050 | 1,853 | 2.49% | 7,197 | 9.67% |
60-64 | 40,856 | 36,857 | 90% | 9,331 | 1,966 | 2.64% | 7,365 | 9.90% |
65-69 | 33,312 | 31,193 | 94% | 9,602 | 1,844 | 2.48% | 7,758 | 10.43% |
70-74 | 21,918 | 21,392 | 98% | 7,454 | 1,190 | 1.60% | 6,264 | 8.42% |
75-79 | 13,834 | 12,976 | 94% | 4,344 | 602 | 0.81% | 3,742 | 5.03% |
80-84 | 8,743 | 7,694 | 88% | 2,089 | 265 | 0.36% | 1,824 | 2.45% |
85+ | 8,341 | 6,981 | 84% | 1,137 | 157 | 0.21% | 980 | 1.32% |
All | 666,050 | 500,231 | 75% | 74,391 | 16,533 | 22.22% | 57,858 | 77.78% |
Out of 500k currently registered voters, 47,907 have voted only in a prior Democratic Party primary, and 79,185 have voted in a prior Republican primary.
This year, 6,859 first time primary voters voted in the Democratic primary and 18,813 first time primary voters voted in the Republican primary.
Of the 47,907 who have voted only in a prior Democratic primary, 7,977 voted early in the 2016 primary. Of the 79,185 who have voted only in a prior Republican primary, 31,795 turned out early in 2016.
Crossover party voting was minimal with 484 prior Republican only voters voting in the Democratic primary, and 2,535 Democrats only voting in the Republican primary.
Of the 11,943 prior swing party primary voters, 4,712 voted Republican and 1,213 voted Democratic Party ballots this year.
Collin County 2016 primary turnout at early voting locations through Friday Feb 26th.
SITE | Total | Dem | % Dem | Rep | % Rep |
Allen Municipal Complex EV501 | 7,571 | 1,587 | 21% | 5,984 | 79% |
Carpenter Park Recreation Ctr EV601 | 4,789 | 1,330 | 28% | 3,459 | 72% |
Maribelle M. Davis Library EV200 | 3,931 | 1,157 | 29% | 2,774 | 71% |
John & Judy Gay Library EV212 | 6,081 | 1,141 | 19% | 4,940 | 81% |
Renner-Frankford Library EV074 | 4,136 | 1,118 | 27% | 3,018 | 73% |
Haggard Library EV164 | 3,367 | 946 | 28% | 2,421 | 72% |
CC Preston Ridge Campus EV117 | 4,129 | 942 | 23% | 3,187 | 77% |
CC Spring Creek Campus EV050 | 2,282 | 931 | 41% | 1,351 | 59% |
Harrington Library EV602 | 3,145 | 903 | 29% | 2,242 | 71% |
PISD Admin Blvd. EV603 | 3,599 | 758 | 21% | 2,841 | 79% |
Rita & Truett Smith Library EV222 | 3,637 | 705 | 19% | 2,932 | 81% |
Collin County Elections EV504 | 3,771 | 670 | 18% | 3,101 | 82% |
Christ UMC EV211 | 3,143 | 655 | 21% | 2,488 | 79% |
Murphy Community Ctr. EV252 | 2,595 | 634 | 24% | 1,961 | 76% |
Parr Library EV109 | 3,221 | 615 | 19% | 2,606 | 81% |
CC McKinney Campus EV043 | 1,647 | 381 | 23% | 1,266 | 77% |
Fire Station #7 EV172 | 1,920 | 351 | 18% | 1,569 | 82% |
Methodist Richardson Med. EV251 | 1,212 | 335 | 28% | 877 | 72% |
Frisco Senior Center EV194 | 1,424 | 306 | 21% | 1,118 | 79% |
Collin Center Higher Edu. EV202 | 1,142 | 219 | 19% | 923 | 81% |
Lovejoy ISD-Spurgin Admin EV174 | 1,483 | 167 | 11% | 1,316 | 89% |
Texas Star Bank EV165 | 1,076 | 161 | 15% | 915 | 85% |
Prosper Municipal Chambers EV215 | 1,289 | 119 | 9% | 1,170 | 91% |
Princeton City Hall EV214 | 831 | 98 | 12% | 733 | 88% |
Parker City Hall EV176 | 670 | 92 | 14% | 578 | 86% |
Lavon City Hall EV213 | 621 | 83 | 13% | 538 | 87% |
Old Settlers Rec. Center EV516 | 341 | 81 | 24% | 260 | 76% |
Celina ISD Admin Building EV721 | 772 | 67 | 9% | 705 | 91% |
Lucas Community Ctr. EV041 | 656 | 56 | 9% | 600 | 91% |
Farmersville City Hall EV011 | 224 | 26 | 12% | 198 | 88% |
Total | 74,049 | 16,578 | 22% | 57,471 | 78% |
Early primary turnout on Friday 2/26 for the top few EV voting centers:
SITE | Total | Dem | Dem % | Rep | Rep % |
Allen Municipal Complex EV501 | 2,037 | 413 | 20% | 1,624 | 80% |
Carpenter Park Recreation Ctr EV601 | 1,413 | 363 | 26% | 1,050 | 74% |
Renner-Frankford Library EV074 | 1,089 | 299 | 27% | 790 | 73% |
John & Judy Gay Library EV212 | 1,697 | 276 | 16% | 1,421 | 84% |
Maribelle M. Davis Library EV200 | 1,132 | 272 | 24% | 860 | 76% |
CC Spring Creek Campus EV050 | 691 | 266 | 38% | 425 | 62% |
Murphy Community Ctr. EV252 | 922 | 259 | 28% | 663 | 72% |
PISD Admin Blvd. EV603 | 1,152 | 251 | 22% | 901 | 78% |
Harrington Library EV602 | 837 | 251 | 30% | 586 | 70% |
Haggard Library EV164 | 835 | 227 | 27% | 608 | 73% |
CC Preston Ridge Campus EV117 | 1,117 | 221 | 20% | 896 | 80% |
Rita & Truett Smith Library EV222 | 1,093 | 202 | 18% | 891 | 82% |
Parr Library EV109 | 1,069 | 187 | 17% | 882 | 83% |
Christ UMC EV211 | 1,091 | 172 | 16% | 919 | 84% |
Collin County Elections EV504 | 889 | 151 | 17% | 738 | 83% |
Fire Station #7 EV172 | 661 | 135 | 20% | 526 | 80% |
Frisco Senior Center EV194 | 559 | 121 | 22% | 438 | 78% |
Methodist Richardson Med. EV251 | 397 | 113 | 28% | 284 | 72% |
CC McKinney Campus EV043 | 522 | 96 | 18% | 426 | 82% |
Collin Center Higher Edu. EV202 | 378 | 65 | 17% | 313 | 83% |
Texas Star Bank EV165 | 366 | 60 | 16% | 306 | 84% |
Lovejoy ISD-Spurgin Admin EV174 | 499 | 56 | 11% | 443 | 89% |
Prosper Municipal Chambers EV215 | 472 | 38 | 8% | 434 | 92% |
Princeton City Hall EV214 | 286 | 31 | 11% | 255 | 89% |
Parker City Hall EV176 | 235 | 31 | 13% | 204 | 87% |
Old Settlers Rec. Center EV516 | 121 | 28 | 23% | 93 | 77% |
Lucas Community Ctr. EV041 | 323 | 24 | 7% | 299 | 93% |
Lavon City Hall EV213 | 206 | 23 | 11% | 183 | 89% |
Celina ISD Admin Building EV721 | 255 | 13 | 5% | 242 | 95% |
Total | 22,021 | 4,620 | 21% | 17,401 | 79% |
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