Earlier today, Michael Jones, SLECT member for Senate District 8 and Ed Kless, chair of the Collin County Libertarian Party, met with Mary McClure, chief of staff for Texas State Representative, Jeff Leach (R-HD-67).The subject of the meeting was HB 464 which would impose a filing fee on for the general election for state and county officers. If passed, this bill, sponsored by Rep. Drew Springer (R-HD-68), would serious curtail the ability of the Libertarian Party to field candidates for state and county offices.Currently, while the two major parties have their primary elections funded largely at tax payer expense (see pages 3 and 4 of the state budget report), the Libertarian Party pays for all the expenses for our convention system though private funding.Michael and Ed are thrilled to report that Rep. Leach is now on record as opposing this bill.That said, more help is always needed as the bill will try to makes its way through the Elections Committee, chaired by Rep. Jodie Laubenberg. The best thing you can do is call her office in Austin at (512) 463-0186 and say you opposed bill 464 and would hope it never makes it to, nevertheless through, her committee.