Texas Legislators Are Spending Fast And Loose With Your Contributions

Hardhatters ^ | 01/08/2014 | Hardhatter's Team

[thetallguy24]

Being in the Texas Legislature is not intended to be a lucrative career. Legislators receive part-time pay. They are only in session six months every two years. It is, for all intents and purposes, a volunteer position for those wishing to serve the public.

Last week, we released an exhaustive report covering the loans relating to the campaigns and PACs of every Texas Legislator. Despite a tepid and defensive response from the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) regarding our figures and call for an audit, we delved further into the campaign finances of the Legislature. This time we took a closer look at how Texas Legislators are spending your contributions. Through our research it appears that many of them aren’t particularly careful in observing the rules set out by the TEC (although the TEC isn’t really paying attention), and some expenditures, while most likely legal, aren’t very ethical.

One of the main rules guiding Texas politicians is the prohibition of using political contributions for personal use. Personal use is very subjective to the TEC, as politicians are permitted to profit through interest on their own loans and often travel to luxurious destinations as long as it is for campaign reasons. An area strictly forbidden is renting or purchasing property from close relatives, themselves, or a business they may own (at least 10% ownership). We examined Legislators’ payments to themselves and known/suspected family members. Many Legislators have been paying rent for properties that appear to violate this rule.

• Craig Estes paid $1,926.40 to rent office space from Estes, Inc. Although Estes denied owning stock in the company, court records proved otherwise.
• Charles Schwertner rented the Schwertner Ranch & Event Center several times from 2010-2014 totaling $107,110.61. The Center (Bell County Property ID: 147822) is owned

[thetallguy24]

"Tom Craddick paid his daughter and now Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick $1,019,009.89 (that is not a typo) from 2003-2011. The last payment ($7,215.92) occurring just two months before she announced her candidacy. Despite paying her on average $113,223.11 per year, Rep. Craddick dismissed this because she was not a “dependent”."

Holy crap. How can you pay your daughter over $1 million and say she's not a dependent? These two should be in jail. I guess Craddick got away with a ton of things as speaker though.

[henkster]

I would say a million bucks would make you pretty independent.

[txrefugee]

Carddick has always been a crook. Democrats started running as Republicans to get elected. They depend on lazy straight ticket voters.

[Theodore R.]

Actually, the legislative session in TX is less than five months every other year.

[thetallguy24]

Haven’t we had special sessions every freaking year its held?

[ziravan]

If I give 50 bucks of my hard earned money to promote my beliefs and they stuff it off to their family members or otherwise blow it on pet projects, that’s practically criminal, if not actually so, but that’s besides the point.

The problem here is that the guys actually elected (this report apparently isn’t looking at failed candidates) are getting big money from big special interests. Those donors don’t care if elected officials use a million bucks to support their daughters, etc.

But we should care, because it amounts to little more than bribery.

If THIS isn’t why the TEC exists, to stop this sort of behavior, then why have a TEC at all? (I do know the answer, the TEC serves as a barrier to running; having to comply with onerous regs keeps the playing field smaller for the previous winners, and they write the laws.)

[Theodore R.]

No, there have not been that many special session; three for redistricting in 2003 and two or three for education funding in 2006.

[thetallguy24]

Try again

http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/sessions/SpecialSessions/specialsessionYears.cfm

[ziravan]

4 of the last 5 legislatures have had special sessions, but that’s just a quibble. The legislature in Texas meets ~about a half year out of every two, five to seven or so months depending on special sessions.

As a side note, HB2, the pro-life bill in the last legislature had to be passed in special session because the Texas House Speaker, Joe Straus, isn’t pro-life. His wife sat on the board of planned parenthood and he routinely stifles pro-life legislation.

The Gov calls special sessions and sets the agenda. Give Perry this prop: he called the special session that created HB2. (There were three special sessions last time, one to deal with the pro-life and transportation issue - this was the special session where Dewhurst allowed Wendy Davis to filibuster and run out the clock, a second session for the pro-life bill to pass, and a third to raid the rainy day fund for transportation).

[thetallguy24]

Actually, HB2 had to be passed in the special session because the Senate Republicans stripped the bill of the partial birth abortion ban. When it got to the House, the House added the ban back, so it had to be sent back to the Senate, which allowed for the filibuster. You can thank Glenn Hegar for that.

[Theodore R.]

Sorry, I forgot the popular Wendy Davis session was a special session, or was it? I know a special session followed her.