You Dirty Rat!

[one-eyed-fatman]

Like I said... bought and sold like pigs going to market.

Perry's big donors get state posts, business

Associated Press
AUSTIN -- A small group of super-rich political contributors, giving at least $25,000 a year, will put at least $10 million into Republican Gov. Rick Perry's re-election treasury as part of a fundraising corps the campaign calls the Century Council.
Donors pledging at least $100,000 get invitations to private luncheons with the governor, and many are beneficiaries of government business and plum state appointments, The Dallas Morning News reported today.
Three Century Council members have lucrative contracts to help build Perry's multibillion-dollar toll-road project.
The state has deposited millions in investment funds operated by three other top-tier givers. Sixteen donors are Perry appointees to coveted boards, including the Parks and Wildlife Commission and state university regent boards.
The number of super-donors dwarfs anything Perry's three most recent predecessors had, according to a computer-generated review of contribution records.
Perry has attracted twice as many $25,000 contributions as fellow Republican George W. Bush did in 1994 or 1998. Perry has more than five times as many as Democrat Ann Richards had in her 1990 campaign and Republican Bill Clements had in 1986, according to the records.
Perry campaign spokesman Robert Black said the donors get no special treatment. Black said donors give money because they support Perry's stewardship as governor.
"They believe in his leadership, his vision for the future and where he wants to lead the state," Black said. "If they have any ulterior motives, they need not give."
Advocates of campaign finance reform say the big money is designed to buy access.
"The kinds of people who step up to the plate to give this kind of money tend to be people who want something from government," said Andrew Wheat of Texans for Public Justice, a nonprofit group that tracks campaign contributions.
Texas law does not limit the size of campaign contributions.
Perry's rivals in this year's governor's race also have big-dollar donors, although in far fewer numbers.
Democratic nominee Chris Bell's biggest contributor is Houston auto dealer Ricardo Weitz, who has provided airplanes for the candidate to use, a contribution worth $171,900.
Hair products executive John McCall of Spicewood tops independent challenger Kinky Friedman's donors with $851,000 in contributions and donated office space.
Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, running as an independent, has among her biggest donors Beaumont lawyer Walter Umphrey, who has given her $500,000, and Houston lawyer John Eddie Williams, who has given $450,000.
Perry's campaign has criticized Strayhorn for accepting $1.5 million since 2002 from Ryan & Co., a Dallas-based tax-consulting firm that has represented several businesses disputing tax bills from Strayhorn's office.
A state auditor's report last year said Strayhorn's office had settled tax cases totaling $461 million within a year of receiving contributions from such companies. The audit did not allege wrongdoing but recommended that candidates not accept donations from those with interests before their office.
Among Perry's donors, at least 85 are members of the Century Council, who have contributed at least $25,000 a year toward Perry's re-election since his last campaign in 2002. Some have given much more.
His biggest contributor, Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, who is not related to the governor, has given more than $700,000 since Rick Perry became governor in late 2000.
In 2003, the Legislature created a state agency to resolve construction disputes between homebuilders and consumers. The governor appointed the Houston homebuilder's corporate counsel to the agency's governing board.
Black said there is no connection between contributions and state appointments or contracts.
"These are major donors that have been with the governor for a long time," Black said.
One highway contractor benefiting from Perry's toll road initiative known as the Trans-Texas Corridor has been a major Perry contributor since the late 1990s.
H.B. Zachry, whose San Antonio construction company is a partner in the project, began giving annual contributions of $10,000 after Perry was elected lieutenant governor in 1998. After Perry succeeded Bush as governor, the contributions grew to at least $25,000 a year.
The Texas Department of Transportation, which is overseen by Perry appointees, chooses the contractors. Some Perry contributors were unsuccessful bidders on the project.
Three members of Perry's Century Council have been appointed to the Parks and Wildlife Commission. Other big-dollar donors are appointees to the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech boards of regents.

[Brickboy240]

The cronyism in Rick Perry's administration is completely out of control. Much like the Bush administration.

How does Perry explain the new franchise business tax increase, when the state has such a huge surplus? So much for the "conservative" Rick Perry...acts like a leftist if you ask me.

I am still voting for Kinky Friedman in November. Ultra leftist Chris Bell and the Gramma just turn my stomach worse than Rick Perry...if thats possible.

- Brickboy240

[one-eyed-fatman]

Hell this is just one example. Washingtons doing the same damn thing, selling out America.

[one-eyed-fatman]

This is amazing. Show you people corruption in our government and you all go Daaaaaaaaaaa. Stinking sheep your suppose to go Baaaaaaaaa...

[beardman2]

I think its a lack of shock. I generally expect it.

[retired]

After reading all of that stuff that OEFM posted Brickboy, I think your state needs a gov. whose name is KINKY; seems appropriate.

[beardman2]

it would be kind of hard not to vote for a gov named kinky. Then again AZ hasn't had a real Governor in a long time. The last one that was any good got impeached for his private business dealings...woops.

[NewXD40fun]

Rick Perry is the best friend Texas gun-owners have ever had, besides President Bush, Vice Pres. Cheney and Tom Delay of course.

Do a search for ‘Rick Perry’ at the NRA-ILA website and view the list of firearm rights legislation this Republican hero has signed.

http://www.nraila.org/




And you whiners want a gun-grabbing Democrat or left-leaning Peace Corp question mark (Kinky) to take his place? Y’all must be nutso.




Tom

[one-eyed-fatman]

Funnygun if you were a Texan we'ed a hang your ass.

[retired]

NewXD, did you even read that first post. Did you understand anything about it; you know, the fact that Perry takes croynism to a new high, the fact that he rewards his donors with appointments to coveted boards and commissions. I'm not saying his opponents are angels and the I only mentioned Kinky's name for the joke; I know nothing of the person, including his/her gender.( )

I especially like the part where Perry appointed the homebuilder's corporate counsel to head the agency that determines consumer complaints against homebuilders. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house.

Look, I'm a gun lover also, but I'm not so singleminded that my decision to vote for someone is based soley on his views on gun possession; especially when he is as ethically challenged like Perry seems to be.

Basically, what you are saying if I understand you correctly; is that no matter how crooked or unethical a politician may be, as long as he is a gun supporter, it is ok that he/she is in office. Please tell me I'm misunderstanding you and that is not what you believe.