Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release                                      Contact: Kaitlyn Murphy

July 28, 2010                                                                            Office: 713.649.6563

kaitlyn.murphy@house.state.tx.us

Press Statement by State Representative Carol Alvarado on

Judge Bolton’s Ruling on the Arizona Immigration Law

HOUSTON// State Representative Carol Alvarado continued her call for Federal Comprehensive Immigration Reform after today’s injunction regarding Arizona’s S.B. 1070.

“I agree with today’s ruling by District Judge Susan Bolton, temporarily striking down the most controversial parts of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law. This injunction is precisely what the checks and balances system of our government is supposed to accomplish. Read More »

The Harris County Democratic Party announces its 2010 Campaign Kick-Off: Brew-Ha-Ha with Paul Begala on Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 7 to 9 pm, at the new St. Arnold’s Brewery, 2000 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020.

Noted political strategist, humorist, and commentator, Paul Begala, will be the featured guest at a fun-filled night of politics and pundits as we energize Democrats from across Harris County for the November 2010 election. HCDP will introduce the slate of Democratic candidates who won the March 2 Primary and will carry the party’s banner in the November 2010 General Election. Tickets for the event are $40 per person.

Native Texan Paul Begala has deep roots in the Lone Star state. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas, where he taught before his work at the White House. Begala was formerly co-host of Crossfire, CNN’s political debate program. He first entered the national political scene after his consulting firm, Carville & Begala, helped to elect President Bill Clinton in 1992. Serving in the Clinton administration as counselor to the President, he defined and defended the administration’s agenda and served as the principal public spokesman. He has written numerous articles and op-eds for numerous publications. After leaving the Clinton administration, Begala joined Georgetown University’s staff as a research professor of government and public policy.

WHAT: HCDP’s 2010 Campaign Kick-Off: Brew- Ha-Ha with Paul Begala

WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 7 to 9 pm.

WHERE: St. Arnold’s Brewery, 2000 Lyons, Ave., Houston, TX 77020

RSVP: Press, please email Martha@hcdp.org if you plan to attend.

The Harris County Democratic Party announces its 2010 Campaign Kick-Off: Brew-Ha-Ha with Paul Begala on Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 7 to 9 pm, at the new St. Arnold’s Brewery, 2000 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020.

Noted political strategist, humorist, and commentator, Paul Begala, will be the featured guest at a fun-filled night of politics and pundits as we energize Democrats from across Harris County for the November 2010 election. HCDP will introduce the slate of Democratic candidates who won the March 2 Primary and will carry the party’s banner in the November 2010 General Election. Tickets for the event are $40 per person.

Native Texan Paul Begala has deep roots in the Lone Star state. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas, where he taught before his work at the White House. Begala was formerly co-host of Crossfire, CNN’s political debate program. He first entered the national political scene after his consulting firm, Carville & Begala, helped to elect President Bill Clinton in 1992. Serving in the Clinton administration as counselor to the President, he defined and defended the administration’s agenda and served as the principal public spokesman. He has written numerous articles and op-eds for numerous publications. After leaving the Clinton administration, Begala joined Georgetown University’s staff as a research professor of government and public policy.

WHAT: HCDP’s 2010 Campaign Kick-Off: Brew- Ha-Ha with Paul Begala

WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 2010, from 7 to 9 pm.

WHERE: St. Arnold’s Brewery, 2000 Lyons, Ave., Houston, TX 77020

RSVP: Press, please email Martha@hcdp.org if you plan to attend.

The Harris County Democratic Party wants to remind voters that they may confirm their Election Day polling location by visiting our website, www.hcdp.org, or by calling our office at (713) 802-0085. Our hardworking volunteers and staff will be happy to assist you in locating your polling location for the runoff election this coming Saturday, December 12. The polls will be open from 7am to 7pm.

With every election, we hear countless stories of voters discovering too late that their polling locations have changed. Polling locations tend to change or move during runoff elections. Several precincts can be combined and assigned to a single polling location during runoff elections.

The Runoff Election on Saturday, Dec. 12, is being conducted for races in the City of Houston, City of Bellaire, and the Houston Independent School District.

The Harris County Democratic Party urges all voters to call the office at (713) 802-0085 or visit our website at www.hcdp.org and confirm your Election Day polling location.

WHAT: The annual Johnson-Rayburn-Richards Dinner is HCDP’s signature fund raising event. This year, themed “Charting the Course,” the program will celebrate the gains made by the Democratic Party in 2008 and showcase plans for 2010. In addition to the keynote speaker, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, the event will include a special tribute to Nick Lampson, a former Member of Congress from Houston.

Initiated 20 years ago as a memorial to Texas Democratic legends President Lyndon Johnson and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, the event was renamed in 2006 to include Governor Ann Richards. The list of guest speakers in previous years includes notables such as Vice President Joe Biden, Howard Dean, Wesley Clark, and James Carville.

WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2009. Sign in and silent auction begin at 6:00 pm. The VIP reception honoring the guest speaker begins at 6:00 pm. The program begins at 7:00 pm.

WHERE: The event will be at the Hilton Americas Hotel, 1600 Lamar, Houston, TX, 77010, in the Ballroom of the Americas, on the second floor.

WHY: The Johnson-Rayburn-Richards Dinner largely funds the Harris County Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign. The event also introduces local and statewide candidates who plan to run in the 2010 Demorcatic Primary.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: The JRR Dinner has become a “must attend” event in recent years. This year between 1200 and 1500 guests are expected. Go to www.jrrdinner.org for more information. Please contact Martha at HCDP at 713-802-0085 or martha@hcdp.org to obtain press credentials in advance of the event.

The following is a statement from Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Gerry Birnberg regarding today’s indictment of Harris County Criminal Court Judge Don Jackson:

(Houston, TX)— Today’s indictment of Harris County Criminal Court Judge Don Jackson is another shocking and disappointing example of the citizens of Harris County being terribly let down by another Republican official in a county controlled by Republican officeholders.

Last year Harris County voters removed 23 incumbent Republicans from the bench and replace them with 23 new Democratic judges, sending a message that they are tired of the way Republican judges had been running things at the courthouse for too many years now. Republican corruption, incompetence, and lack of integrity have marred county government for too long now. The indictment of Don Jackson is just one more example of that kind of taint, as he follows in the footsteps of Chuck Rosenthal, Tommy Thomas, Jerry Eversole, and other Republican officeholders who have betrayed the public trust.

Democrats remain committed to changing all that and to improving our local judicial system by offering superbly qualified candidates of the highest ethical standards, who are dedicated to the fair and even- handed administration of justice for all who enter their courtrooms, without soliciting favors – financial, sexual, or otherwise – from folks who appear before them.

Harris County residents deserve more and better than what the indictment of Don Jackson alleges he provided.

(Houston, TX)-– Two years ago, Harris County Republicans shut down a program to provide free flu shots to folks over 60 because the vaccinations were being provided at sites where early voting was also going on. The local Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill howled that giving anything of value at a place where early voting was going on was a crime. Mayor Bill White stopped the program in response to those complaints, and thousands of elderly individuals went without flu shots as a result.

This week, the Republicans are providing free barbeque at (and only at) early locations where people are casting ballots in the Senate District 17 runoff election between Joan Huffman and Democrat Chris Bell. County Commissioner Steve Radack is himself engaging in the very same conduct Republican County Party Chair Jared Woodfill called illegal (in fact, a crime) just two year ago.

“If it was illegal to provide flu shots for the elderly at locations where early voting was going on two years ago, it must be equally unlawful for Commissioner Radack to be providing free barbeque at early voting locations in traditionally Republican neighborhoods today,” said Harris County Democratic Party Chair Gerry Birnberg. “I call on Jared Woodfill and the Harris County Republican Party to denounce as illegal the conduct they so vehemently condemned two years ago, resulting in thousands of needy elderly citizens being denied vital immunizations.”

(Houston, TX)— The Harris County Democratic Party in conjunction with the Obama for America campaign will be holding an Election Night party TONIGHT at 7:30pm. HCDP Chair Gerry Birnberg will be joined by U.S. Senate candidate and State Representative Rick Noriega, Texas Senate District 17 candidate Chris Bell and a number of Democratic elected officials and candidates.

WHAT: Harris County Democratic Party Election Night Party

WHO: HCDP Chair Gerry Birnberg
Rick Noriega, candidate for U.S. Senate
Chris Bell, candidate for Senate District 17
Democratic elected officials & candidates

WHERE: Crown Plaza-Reliant Park
Stephen F. Austin Ballroom
8686 Kirby
Houston, TX 77054

WHEN: TONIGHT
4:30pm media access
7:30pm event begins

Media Pre-Set: Television trucks can begin setting up for live shots throughout the day and must be in place by 4:30pm.

Throw: 50 ft.
Cable Run: 400 ft.

If you have not already done so, please contact Amber Moon at (713) 410-3671 to reserve camera space. For on-site assistance, contact Kenny with J&S Audio/Visual at (832) 622- 3942.