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Making an Impact
“The Lone Star Project … hammers Republicans whenever it gets a chance, promoting strong local Democratic candidates and even bringing lawsuits.”
(Roll Call, Stuart Rothenberg,
March 12, 2009)
“Anyone who questions whether [The Lone Star Project] can make life difficult for a Republican legislator should talk to former Sen. Kim Brimer.”
(Austin American Statesman, February 17, 2009)
“[The Lone Star Project] is responsible for the aggressive stance the party has taken toward DeLay and other Lone Star State Republicans since the 2004 election.”
(The Washington Post, March 6, 2006)
"David Dewhurst has said most Texans don't have much sympathy "for someone who that can't fill out a two page [health insurance] application every six months".
The Democrat-supported Lone Star Project in Washington reported this week that Dewhurst failed to file necessary forms at least six times in recent years.
(San Antonio Expres News,, 4/12/2007)
"The Justice staff memo was obtained by the Lone Star Project ...The story broke the same day the U.S. Supreme Court was considering legal challenges to the plan brought by Democrats and minority groups."
(Houston Chronicle, 12/3/2005)
"The Texas chapter of the NAACP, along with the Lone Star Project, have analyzed the amicus brief filed by the Justice Department and have concluded, justifiably, that the Voting Rights section of the Justice Department is now controlled by partisan political appointees."
(Roll Call - Donna Brazile, 2/28/2006)
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Look for Republican Bait and Switch on Voter ID Bill
Todd Smith’s history points to an eventual double-cross
House colleagues, voters and the media should beware of the cynical “bait and switch” tactic that will likely be used by partisan Republican Todd Smith (HD92 – Euless) when the Texas House Elections Committee begins consideration of Voter Photo ID legislation next week. Nonpartisan experts along with every major newspaper in Texas oppose the partisan Republican effort to force voters to show a government issued photo ID to cast their ballot, even if they are properly registered and have a valid voter registration card in hand.
Smith hires political operative as lead staffer on Election Committee
Rather than hire an expert on election law or a person with experience crafting bipartisan compromise, Smith put Republican political operative, Steven Schar, on the state payroll as the top staffer on the House Elections Committee. Schar has a clearly partisan and also checkered political work history.
- Schar collected over $70,000 in salary from deposed Republican Speaker Tom Craddick’s infamous Stars Over Texas PAC, which spent millions supporting extreme right wing candidates and attacking centrists. (Texas Ethics Commission)
- Schar was campaign manager for failed Republican House candidate, Sam Walls. Schar’s campaign for Walls fell apart after a bizarre ethics scandal. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 7, 2004)
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House Members Attacked by Stars Over Texas PAC:
Member |
Amount Against |
Diana Maldonado |
$325,000 |
Chris Turner |
$240,000 |
Valinda Bolton |
$210,000 |
Mark Strama |
$167,500 |
Joe Moody |
$163,500 |
Joe Heflin |
$150,000 |
Stephen Frost |
$105,000 |
Robert Miklos |
$100,000 |
Carol Kent |
$100,000 |
Paula Pierson |
$75,000 |
Allen Vaught |
$55,000 |
Joe Farias |
$55,000 |
Ellen Cohen |
$51,197 |
David Leibowitz |
$50,000 |
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The Bait
Todd Smith, who was passed over for more important, but less partisan legislative assignments, is signaling that he may accept amendments to exempt some voters from the Photo ID requirement and might be willing to phase the bill in over one or more elections. (Source: Associated Press, March 27, 2009 )
The Switch
However, the final version of the bill will be written by a small group of harshly partisan Republican members sitting on a House and Senate Conference Committee where any so-called “softening” amendments can be stripped out. Neither Todd Smith nor Republican House Speaker Joe Straus has signaled any intention to protect a House version of the bill or oppose a final bill that strips out amendments agreed upon by the House.
Todd Smith has double-crossed colleagues before
Four years ago Todd Smith also promised a large group of both Republican and Democratic legislators that he would take the lead and then fight for them on major legislation. He authored a campaign finance reform bill outlawing corporate contributions to Texas political committees. Over 90 colleagues, almost two-thirds of the House, cosponsored Smith’s bill. However, when heavy-handed Speaker Tom Craddick moved to block the legislation, Smith quickly folded, double-crossing his colleagues and allowing the reform bill to die. Smith’s partisanship and fear of extremists in his own party overcame any sense of honor, duty or loyalty to colleagues. (Source: Austin American-Statesman, April 29, 2005)
Now, four years later, even though Todd Smith is Chair of the Elections Committee and Tom Craddick is long gone, Smith has fully embraced the role of in-house political hack by pushing a partisan Voter ID bill and making empty promises to colleagues that history shows he has no intention of keeping.
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