Found it. The 50 State plan ends Dec. 1.

[madfloridian]

http://wa-demchairs.org/blog/node/252

"I was informed today by the DNC that the State Partnership Program (50 State Strategy) terminates on December 1. That means that three members of our staff will no longer be paid for by the DNC. They are Wes Beal our Voter File Manager, Patrick Mead our Technology Director, and Erik Horeis our Eastern Washington Organizer.

This was not unexpected. Howard Dean launched the SPP, and his term is about to end. The DNC is under great financial pressure now. I am grateful to Dean and the DNC for the support they have given our Party.

The loss of pay for three staff is a blow to our financial picture for 2009. The year after a Presidential election is the toughest year for fundraising in any four year cycle. At the end of January we will elect our Chair for 2009 – 10. The Executive Committee will approve our budget for 2009 at that meeting.

I have informed Wes, Patrick, and Erik that the Party will continue to employ them through January 2009, but their continued employment will be decided by the Chair and Executive Board in late January.

Dwight"

Not rumor.

[NMDemDist2]

1. K&N, we need to support our local parties like we supported Obama... well maybe not

THAT MUCH, but we should all send our local and state party a few ducats over the next year to help them make the transition before we gear up for 2010

[elleng]

2. Darn.

So new chair will be 'FOR,' that is, Friend of Rahm, who did not support 50-state strategy.

[regnaD kciN]

22. We have no way of knowing that...

Keep in mind that Obama's own campaign was built around the 50-state strategy, and it paid off handsomely for him. Assuming that Obama will have a large say in who the new DNC chair will be, I see no reason why he'd want to go back to the old ways that didn't work.

And I would be especially cautious in assuming that, just because Emmanuel is CoS, that he's automatically "the power behind the throne." I think he was picked for his ability to get things done in Congress, rather than for his policy-creation abilities (or, as far as I can tell, lack thereof). Keep in mind that Emmanuel is not Rove (or Cheney, or Rumsfeld), mainly because Obama is not Bush.

[elleng]

28. Hope you're right!

Was at Rahm book signing, where it was apparent he thought little of Dean + 50-state strategy.

[NYC_SKP]

3. One would like to think that the DNC would know what they are doing...

...and one might be wrong.

I'd be happy to donate to a fund to keep these three posts open, if that's what it takes to keep the SPP alive.

:shrug:

[madfloridian]

5. Uh...Uh...that it Obama's DNC now. Dean has just been finishing his term.

You will need to ask him if you can get through the gatekeeper who despises the 50 state plan.

[Occam Bandage]

8. I assume you're referring to Rahm. Is there any particular reason to believe

that Obama is not going to be in charge of his own Chief of Staff?

[Tatiana]

10. Rahm was proven wrong on this and he knows it. Obama will be the decider.

I'd love for Dean to remain at the DNC, and I think the job is still his if he is not appointed to the Cabinet.

[Occam Bandage]

4. Is there any reason to think a similar program won't be enacted for the '09-'10 session?

[madfloridian]

6. I have no idea.

Paul Tewes is running stuff there now...

[Eric J in MN]

7. If Howard Dean leaves the DNC, the next chair may not support...

...the 50 state strategy.

[Occam Bandage]

9. Dean was always going to leave the DNC after '08. I haven't read anything suggesting

that Obama is going to back an anti-50-state DNC head going foward.

[silverojo]

11. And that would be a disaster. - n/t

[MaineDem]

26. It's possible that the program will be revitalized after January

Sad thing is, though, that the great people we have in these positions will be without jobs for that period of time. I don't want to lose that talent. I'm sure they'll look for other opportunities.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. This makes me feel nervous about the Congressional...and even local races in 2010.

[bemildred]

13. Obama owns the DNC now.

It had a lot to do with putting him in that position. He may want to make changes, but there is no reason to think we will weaken his chances for re-election by undoing Dr Dean's work. More likely would be an effort to increase the Democratic margin in Congress, which suggests further encroachment in Republican areas.

[madfloridian]

14. They are laying the staffers off.

That is pretty clear a signal. The new chair may or may not do anything about it.

[Occam Bandage]

15. Because the DNC funding expires at the end of this year, and '09 funding is up to

whoever the chair is in '09. I think you're trying to read more than can be read from this.

[bemildred]

18. It's a clear signal that they are wrapping up Dr Dean's term.

It means doodle about what will happen in the next term. As you say, the new chair may do whatever he likes, or whatever he is told to do. It is going to be interesting. I just won't believe Obama wants to weaken it until I see him do it.

[madfloridian]

20. Yes, all is well.

The staffers get termination notices while still on an election high.

No thanks to Dean, hope they got more.

This is not okay. It is just not okay.

[cliffordu]

21. In spite of the fact that everyone involved KNEW this was going to happen?

I would bet they will retool where they want to concentrate for the mid term elections in two years and then go all out for the general again in 4 years....

The DNC recieved very few donations when you compare it with what Obama got (and spent...) and supporting the numbers of staff that are out there doesn't make any sense.....

[Breeze54]

27. No, he doesn't. WE are the DNC....

Just by sheer definition it's Democratic or it should be.
We didn't elect a king. We also get a say in what happens.

Just saying.

[JI7]

16. this might just be what they always do with change in leadership and after elections

just like the President and his administration. i'm sure the same thing will be put back in place but with focus for the upcoming elections.

also Obama pretty much controls who will be in charge at the DNC now and he knows how important this will be since he was just elected and i'm sure he will want to be re-elected 4 years from now.

i wouldn't worry about this too much.

[madfloridian]

19. The staffers worked their hearts out. They get a letter saying they are laid off.

I hope they got more thanks than dean did.

[regnaD kciN]

24. With all due respect...

...you are really overdoing this.

As the message notes, this was "not unexpected." Every four years, the chair changes hands, and staff is re-organized according to the new plan. It will probably be much like Dean's, but it may be somewhat different. In any event, funding for that plan was known to only run through 2008, so this is neither a surprise nor "big news."

If I may make an analogy: this is not unlike the end of the Christmas shopping season, when lots of temporary sales clerks, hired with the understanding that the job was just going to be seasonal, have their jobs come to an end. Would it seem reasonable to complain that they aren't being "treated fairly" for their increased sales by not being kept on permanently?

[dorktv]

17. This could be a signal that Chairman Dean will be a secretary of something.

And I think that we need to start thinking about how to get the 50 states standing on their own two feet.

After all-how can you expect to fly if you never leave the nest?

[Unsane]

23. I'd like to see David Plouffe take over the DNC.

[crispini]

25. .

:kick: