AUSTIN – This past June, Steve Munisteri was elected the new Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) in part on a platform to balance the state GOP party’s own financial books.

During the past two months, Munisteri said the party and its supporters have diligently whittled its debt down from an estimated $685,000 to $350,000.

“With the party’s debt so large, who you gonna call?” mused Munisteri. “Many great folks have stepped forward to help, but I recently put out a call for some big ‘Debt Busters’ help.”

An immediate answer to Munisteri’s call for fund raising assistance came from the Republican members of the Texas House of Representatives, including Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) and Texas House Republican Caucus Chairman Larry Taylor (R- League City).

According to State Representative Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), debt retirement contributions will be requested from all current 77 Republican state House members as well as from current Republican state house candidates.

Keffer confirmed that House Republicans have already received initial pledges of $120,000 toward the $350,000 debt retirement goal and have committed to retire the RPT’s current debt before December 31, 2010.

“With our House Republicans leading the charge to retire the party’s old debt, the Republican Party of Texas will now have additional resources freed up for the approaching fall elections for county-state-federal Republican candidates, redistricting preparations and party outreach,” said Munisteri.

House member Jodie Laubenberg (R-Collin County) said she was excited to join with fellow Republican House members to help with the state party’s debt-busters project. “Texas Republicans are committed to protecting our conservative majorities in Texas and to restoring Republican majorities in Congress as well as retaking the White House.”

“The Republican Party, our candidates, our elected leaders and our supporters have all struggled in the down economy. But our commitment to fiscal and conservative integrity in government has not waned,” said Taylor. “Helping the state party retire its own operational debt is just practicing what we steadfastly believe in.”