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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,622 posts)
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 09:12 AM Apr 2015

Wealthy donors on left launch new plan to wrest back control in the states

Wealthy donors on left launch new plan to wrest back control in the states

Politics
By Matea Gold April 12 at 9:00 PM
@mateagold

SAN FRANCISCO — A cadre of wealthy liberal donors aims to pour tens of millions of dollars into rebuilding the left’s political might in the states, racing to catch up with a decades-old conservative effort that has reshaped statehouses across the country.

The plan embraced by the Democracy Alliance, an organization that advises some of the Democrats’ top contributors, puts an urgent new focus on financing groups that can help the party regain influence in time for the next congressional redistricting process, after the 2020 elections. The blueprint approved by the alliance board calls on donors to help expand state-level organizing and lobbying for measures addressing climate change, voting rights and economic inequality.

“People have gotten a wake-up call,” Gara LaMarche, the alliance’s president, said in an interview. “The right is focused on the state level, and even down-ballot, and has made enormous gains. We can’t have the kind of long-term progressive future we want if we don’t take power in the states.”

The five-year initiative, called 2020 Vision, will be discussed this week at a private conference being held at a San Francisco hotel for donors who participate in the Democracy Alliance. Leading California Democrats are scheduled to make appearances, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Kamala Harris. The alliance, which does not disclose its members, plans to make some of the events available to reporters via a webcast.
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Wealthy donors on left launch new plan to wrest back control in the states (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2015 OP
I couldn't be happier. nt okaawhatever Apr 2015 #1
Oh gawd, let's hope so.... Novara Apr 2015 #2
i'd settle for congress. mopinko Apr 2015 #3
The thing is, the GOP gerrymanders so blatantly in the states that it controls djean111 Apr 2015 #4
it's true. also mopinko Apr 2015 #5
Dems organizing with long term strategies and plans Sheepshank Apr 2015 #6
Thank goodness, better late than never. Let's get to work on the STATES, all 50. appalachiablue Apr 2015 #7

mopinko

(70,242 posts)
3. i'd settle for congress.
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 10:34 AM
Apr 2015

shit, kelly westlund got zip from the party. raised a mere million. and got crap all along about how "barack obama and nancy pelosi were behind her".
yeah, that sucked. i mean, if wis is not a salvageable state, what is?
meanwhile the koch bros are buying county board seats.

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
4. The thing is, the GOP gerrymanders so blatantly in the states that it controls
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 11:14 AM
Apr 2015

votes for Congress and the presidency in that way. So, yeah, the states are important. Plus, a lot of the things like gay marriage and pro-choice - decided by states, not Congress. The states get to decide about expanding Medicaid. The states decide on education issues. The states can decide to not let food stamps be used for tuna fish. Concentrating on the states should have been a huge priority long before this.

mopinko

(70,242 posts)
5. it's true. also
Mon Apr 13, 2015, 12:35 PM
Apr 2015

carrying the bottom of the ticket will carry the top of the ticket. the opposite of the "common wisdom". which is usually where reality is.

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