FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2012

Contact: Nathan Thomas
nthomas@dlcc.org

DLCC On the Air in Wisconsin Senate Recalls

30-Second Spot Exposes Terry Moulton’s attacks on Education

Washington, DC - Today the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee’s Wisconsin PAC launched its first recall television ad of 2012, marking national Democrats’ first on-air strike in one of the four Wisconsin Senate recall campaigns. The spot shines a harsh light on 23rd District Republican state Senator Terry Moulton’s votes to gut education while giving tax breaks to the rich and to big corporations.

“Parents in the 23rd Senate District deserve to know that Terry Moulton is the reason their children have bigger class sizes and their schools have fewer quality teachers,” said DLCC Executive Director Michael Sargeant. “Moulton voted for the biggest education cuts in Wisconsin history, and then he used the money to give away billions of dollars in tax breaks to the rich and to out-of-state corporations. Those are not Wisconsin values.”

Recent polls released by the DLCC Wisconsin PAC show an extremely competitive campaign in this race. “Voters will go to the polls knowing all about Terry Moulton’s lock-step support for Scott Walker’s extreme attacks on schools, and they – the voters – will demand an answer for that,” Sargeant added.

The DLCC Wisconsin PAC’s 30-second spot, “Big,” is running in Sen. Moulton’s 23rd Senate District. Watch the ad here. Full script below.

"Big"
30-Second TV

Terry Moulton has a BIG problem.

You see, Senator Moulton spends a lot of his time helping the BIG guys. Big corporations. BIG donors. Moulton gives them BIG tax breaks…

While giving Wisconsin families the big brush off. Moulton took away $1.6 billion from our kids’ schools. So our kids get BIGGER class sizes and fewer quality teachers…

While Moulton’s buddies get billions in BIG tax breaks.

On June 5th, it’s time to give Terry Moulton the big heave ho.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2012

Contact:
Nathan Thomas - nthomas@dlcc.org
Stu Trevelyan - stu@ngpvan.com

DLCC and NGP VAN Form Technology Partnership

“DLCC Go” to Provide Integrated Web Site Solution and Other Tools to Help Democratic State Legislative Candidates Win

Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2012) — The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) and NGP VAN have partnered to bring state legislative candidates across the country DLCC Go, a unique suite of integrated and affordable new media, fundraising, and field campaign tools that will give Democratic campaigns of all sizes a competitive technology edge.

State legislative campaigns can take advantage of DLCC Go [www.DLCCGo.com] to easily publish a professional web site, send broadcast emails, manage fundraising online and off, and integrate their web site with the VAN field tool most Democratic campaigns use. From Maine to California, DLCC Go lets any state legislative campaign — big or small — take advantage of the best integrated campaign technology available to Democrats. The DLCC has made DLCC Go affordable by negotiating an economy of scale price with NGP VAN, a Democratic campaign technology company.

“Since our inception, the DLCC has worked to make the most sophisticated campaign tools affordable and accessible for Democratic state legislative candidates across the country,” said DLCC Executive Director Michael Sargeant. “Through DLCC Go, candidates now have affordable access to NGP VAN’s advanced online toolkit, including a web site platform that is fully integrated with their fundraising and field tools. These same tools are already used by countless congressional candidates across the country, and with DLCC Go, all state legislative campaigns can now afford them as well.”

“Several years ago, we started an initiative to build out our state legislative program after we realized that there were hundreds of Democratic state legislative campaigns who could greatly benefit from our web site platform and core toolset if we simply made it more affordable and accessible. We’ve had hundreds of campaigns and every active Democratic caucus sign on to our tools in some fashion.” says Stu Trevelyan, CEO of NGP VAN. “This partnership and DLCC Go is an important step forward to helping even more Democratic state legislative candidates get a technology edge.”

For more information, please visit www.dlccgo.com

###

About the DLCC. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the national Democratic organization responsible for winning state legislative elections. The DLCC is the only political committee in the country whose principal mission is to put Democrats in control of as many state legislatures as possible. We do this by helping to build winning, state-of-the-art campaign committees across the country through partnerships with legislative leaders, professional staff, and grassroots advocates. We provide candidates with access to tools like polling, research, and online activism platforms, as well as other data, field, and communications resources that have become indispensable for modern campaigns.

About NGP VAN. NGP VAN is also the preferred new media provider to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, EMILY’s List, America Votes, and State Voices. NGP VAN counts thousands of campaigns and organizations among our clients, including Obama for America, all the national Democratic committees, thousands of Democratic campaigns, and hundreds of labor unions, progressive and non-partisan PACs, and other organizations. We are proud to provide a uniquely integrated platform that combines the best new media, fundraising, and field products.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2012

Contact: Nathan Thomas
nthomas@dlcc.org

DLCC Polls Show Democrats Leading Wisconsin Senate Recalls

Democrats Favored to Win Majority on June 5th

Washington, DC - Today the DLCC Wisconsin PAC released polling results for the Wisconsin recall special elections in Senate Districts 21, 23, and 29. The surveys show Democrat John Lehman leading by 4% in District 21, and Democrats Kristen Dexter and Donna Seidel are both within the margin of error in Districts 23 and 29.

“Wisconsin voters are tired of the failed Republican policies that have made their state last in the nation in job growth, and these polls reflect that frustration,” said DLCC Executive Director Michael Sargeant. “Van Wanggaard, Terry Moulton, and Jerry Petrowski betrayed the working families of Wisconsin by voting in lock-step with Scott Walker’s extreme anti-worker agenda, and now all Wisconsinites are suffering the consequences. Voters are demanding a change.”

Democratic victory in just one Senate recall guarantees a Democratic majority in the Wisconsin Senate. No Democrats face recall elections. These polls clearly put the odds on Democrats taking back the Wisconsin Senate in June.

The complete polling memo, including full results for all three races, is available here.

METHODOLOGY

All three polls were conducted by Myers Research and Strategic Services and surveyed 400 likely voters in each district. SD 23 calling took place from March 20-22, SD 21 calling took place April 3-5, and SD 29 calling took place April 17-19. The surveys have a margin of error of ±4.9% within a 95% confidence interval.

###

DLCC Commemorates Anniversary of Historic Wisconsin Protest

Washington, DC - Today Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Executive Director Michael Sargeant issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the historic legislative protest against Republicans’ vicious attacks on Wisconsin unions and working families. 

“One year ago today, Wisconsin Senate Democrats stood up to the tyranny of Gov. Scott Walker and his GOP statehouse cronies in a pivotal moment in the fight against right-wing extremism,” said Sargeant. “By taking a historic stand against the Republican assault on working families, the ‘Wisconsin 14’ became a symbol of the Democratic commitment to standing up for the middle class. 

“The Wisconsin Senate Democrats set a movement in motion,” Sargeant continued. “What began as one protest in one legislative chamber soon spread to Ohio, Indiana, and beyond, and now has led to a national conversation about the Republican war on middle-class values. 

“The fight is far from over. In Wisconsin, citizens are still fighting to free themselves from the GOP’s stranglehold on political power. Republicans in state capitols across the country continue their attacks on working families. 

“But Democrats continue to fight back every step of the way, and voters are rebuking GOP candidates and policies all over the country. The string of Democratic victories in state legislative elections over the past year reveals that voters are repeatedly and thoroughly rejecting statehouse Republicans’ out-of-touch, anti-middle class agenda.” 

DLCC Reminds Netroots Nation Where Crazy Comes From

Panel Features Statehouse Experts on GOP Extremism

Minneapolis, MN - Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Executive Director Michael Sargeant today invited progressive bloggers and activists gathered at Netroots Nation 2011 to share experiences with extreme right-wing agenda items that have popped up in state legislatures all across the country. The DLCC hosts a panel this morning specifically addressing conservative extremism in statehouses. 

“The DLCC is excited to be sponsoring Netroots Nation for the fourth year in a row. This conference is a crucial event for the progressive movement every year,” said Sargeant. “As Democrats and progressives across the country find themselves faced with some of the worst attacks on unions, teachers, voting rights, and other important issues in years, the Netroots community’s role in shaping political thought and pushing back against extreme agendas is central to Democrats’ success in the months and years to come.” 

Netroots attendees who join the DLCC for the Thursday morning panel Where Crazy Comes From: Reckless Republicans in State Legislatures will have the opportunity not only to hear and share accounts of GOP extremism, but also to ask a state legislator in the trenches about his experiences fighting against the Republicans’ anti-middle class, anti-common sense agenda. 

“Where Crazy Comes From provides a great opportunity to highlight the right-wing extremism that seems to permeate politics at all levels these days,” Sargeant explained. “State legislatures pass laws that immediately affect people’s lives, but also can be breeding grounds for policies that later get pushed at the national level. The fight against this extreme agenda must start in statehouses.” 

In addition to the conducting this panel, Sargeant and key DLCC staff will be meeting with bloggers and media figures to discuss the urgency of fighting state-level GOP extremism. The DLCC is also a sponsor of Friday’s Netroots Candidate Event and Friday night’s Chairman’s Pub Quiz. 

“We are pleased to support this conference and engage it in fighting back against the Republican war on progressive policies and the middle class,” said Sargeant. 

Today's Politico Arena Chat features Arizona state Senator Kyrsten Sinema. She discusses harmful GOP policies, the economy, and 2012 elections with moderator David Mark.

Visit The Arena here.

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY                                                   

Contact: Carolyn Fiddler, fiddler@dlcc.org                                                                   

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Netroots Nation 2011 Panel Features Statehouse Crazy, Republican Extremism 

Wisconsin Sen. Mark Miller Joins Statehouse Experts for Discussion of GOP Misdeeds

It’s not just Wisconsin and Ohio; Republicans in state legislatures all around the country are bringing serious right-wing craziness into the mainstream. Where Crazy Comes From: Reckless Republicans in State Legislatures will encourage participants to help expose these shenanigans, push back on the insanity and share input and ideas on countering the crazy before it spreads. Panelists will provide examples of extremist Republicans in the states and how progressives have fought back. DLCC Communications Director Carolyn Fiddler will moderate the panel discussion and interactive questioning. 

Who:                The Hon. Mark Miller, Wisconsin Senate Democratic Leader
Michael Sargeant, Executive Director, DLCC
            Matt Glazer, Executive Director, Progress Texas & Progress Texas Institute
            Andy Birkey, Senior Reporter, Minnesota Independent          

What:               Where Crazy Comes From: Reckless Republicans in State Legislatures

Panel discussion with analyses of recent extremism in statehouses and how it affects not only politics and people on the state level, but also ideas, discourse, and even elections on the national level. Panelists and audience participants will also discuss pushing back on the crazy and how it may even be used to help progressive politics. 

When:              Thursday, June 16, 2011
10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.                      

Where:             Room L100 FG
Minneapolis Convention Center
                        Minneapolis, MN