DNC chair Kaine urges push for health care bill

AUSTIN, Texas — Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine gave a pep talk to party activists Friday, urging them to work for passage of health insurance legislation and telling them Democrats are gaining ground in Texas.

The Virginia governor, addressing the DNC’s fall meeting, predicted a health care package will pass Congress this year. He said the party’s Organizing for America arm has been mobilizing volunteers and holding thousands of health care events.

“The time for debate is over. Now is the time to decide. Now is the time for action,” Kaine said.

Committee members viewed a video tribute to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and cheered his call for expanded health coverage. Some signed condolence books to send to Kennedy’s family.

The Democratic Party is concentrating this year on supporting President Barack Obama’s agenda, like his economic initiatives and health care insurance proposals, and is using its arm known as Organizing for America to generate public support, Kaine said. Kaine criticized Republicans who oppose Obama on health care and said some are putting forth “bogus claims” of death panels and other inaccuracies.

Kaine chided Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry for openly opposing federal economic stimulus spending and “even threatening to secede because of it.”

Perry spokesman Mark Miner responded, “He’s right. Governor Perry was against the federal stimulus plan.”

As for Kaine’s remark about secession, Miner said: “The chairman is misinformed. … The political hot air of Washington has made its way to Texas.”

Perry, in comments following an anti-tax “tea party” in April, said Texans might at some point get so fed up they would want to leave the union. His aides have pointed out he never said Texas should secede.

The Democrats are holding their three-day meeting in Austin, a Democratic island in a predominantly Republican state. Committee members heard speeches from Kaine and state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte about the party’s efforts to regain power in Texas, especially in the Texas House of Representatives.

“Today we Texas Democrats are thinking big and working hard, and we are coming back,” Van de Putte said. She said Democrats are close to regaining control of the Texas House — divided 76-74 in the GOP’s favor — and that they’ve taken over numerous county offices in urban areas of the state like Dallas and Houston.

The party hasn’t won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, but Kaine said the Democrats see opportunities.

“That’s why we’ve come to Texas,” he said, adding that it’s believed to have been at least 30 years since the DNC met in Texas.

Republicans are organizing a Saturday rally in response to the DNC meeting.

“It’s our way of sending the DNC packing,” said Texas Republican Party spokesman Bryan Preston.