[Texgreen] A suitcase stuffed with $100 bills is perfectly fine

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:38:45 -0600

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I always did wonder how you tell the difference between a campaign
contribution and a bribe.  Texas does it again.  

Les

-----Original Message-----
From: texgreen-admin@lists.gp-us.org [mailto:texgreen-admin@lists.gp-us.org]
On Behalf Of Roger Baker
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 11:53 AM
To: TXGP Listserve
Subject: [Texgreen] A suitcase stuffed with $100 bills is perfectly fine

[You can already tell from the heading that this is going to be about  
Texas politics, right? -- Roger]

<http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/11/29/MNGPRMLHU31.DTL>

Cash gift loophole for Texas officials
Unlimited money allowed with only vague disclosure

Miguel Bustillo, Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, November 29, 2006

(11-29) 04:00 PST Houston -- Looking for that special something to  
give a Texas politician this holiday season? Don't fret: A suitcase  
stuffed with $100 bills is perfectly fine.
The Texas Ethics Commission affirmed this week that state officials  
can accept unlimited gifts of cash from donors without revealing how  
much they got. All public officials have to do is report a gift of  
"currency" on a disclosure form and who the money came from.

The legal interpretation shocked campaign-finance watchdogs and some  
Texas officials, who argued that it was tantamount to legalizing  
bribery in the Lone Star State. Under Texas law, elected officials,  
board appointees and many other public officials are supposed to  
disclose and describe any gift over $250.

"This creates a loophole big enough to drive an armored car full of  
cash through," said Craig McDonald, director of the nonprofit group  
Texans for Public Justice. "It makes a mockery of our ethics laws."

Ronnie Earle, the Travis County district attorney leading the  
corruption prosecution of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay,  
called the interpretation absurd in a letter to the panel. He joked  
that Texas officials could reveal receiving a gift of a wheelbarrow,  
"without reporting that the wheelbarrow was filled with cash."

The issue came to light after Texans for Public Justice protested a  
disclosure filed last year by Bill Ceverha, a board member of the  
Employees Retirement System of Texas, which administers benefits for  
about 250,000 former state workers and oversees a $19.9 billion fund.

Ceverha reported a "check" from Bob Perry -- a Houston homebuilder  
and major Republican Party benefactor who is the biggest political  
donor in Texas -- but did not state its amount. Perry is best known  
nationally for funding the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad campaign  
against 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Perry and Ceverha both stated that the gifts were two checks for  
$100,000, and were intended to help Ceverha defend himself against a  
civil suit related to his former role as the treasurer of a Texas  
political action committee created by DeLay. Ceverha filed for  
personal bankruptcy last year.

Campaign finance watchdogs were outraged when the Texas Ethics  
Commission ruled that public officials who receive large sums as  
checks do not have to disclose the amount -- as long as they report a  
gift of a "check" and its origin. Critics argued that such a loose  
interpretation of the law allowed a big donor to give thousands to a  
candidate as a personal gift. The candidate could then act as if he  
were funding his campaign out of his own pocket.

Some ethics panelists conceded there was a problem, but argued that  
it was the wording of the law that needed to be fixed. State  
lawmakers and Gov. Rick Perry have said they will consider tightening  
the restrictions next year.
_______________________________________________
texgreen mailing list
texgreen@lists.gp-us.org
http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/texgreen

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<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I always did wonder how you tell the difference =
between a
campaign contribution and a bribe.<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State> does it
again.<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Les<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D4 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>-----Original Message-----<br>
From: texgreen-admin@lists.gp-us.org =
[mailto:texgreen-admin@lists.gp-us.org] On
Behalf <span class=3DGramE>Of</span> Roger Baker<br>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 11:53 AM<br>
To: TXGP Listserve<br>
Subject: [Texgreen] <span class=3DGramE>A</span> suitcase stuffed with =
$100 bills
is perfectly fine</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>[You can already tell from the heading that this is going to be
about<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D2
  face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Texas</span></font></st1:place></st1:State>
politics, right? -- Roger]<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&lt;http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2006/11/29/=
MNGPRMLHU31.DTL&gt;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Cash gift loophole for <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State>
officials<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Unlimited money allowed with only vague =
disclosure<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Miguel Bustillo, <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:City>
Times<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Wednesday, November 29, 2006<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>(11-29) 04:00 PST <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Houston</st1:place></st1:City>
-- Looking for that special something to<span =
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp;
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

give a <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State>
politician this holiday season? Don't fret: A suitcase&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>stuffed with $100 bills is perfectly =
fine.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>The Texas Ethics Commission affirmed this week that state
officials<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>can accept unlimited gifts of cash from donors without revealing
how<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

much they got. All public officials have to do is report a gift =
of&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&quot;currency&quot; on a disclosure form and who the money came =
from.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>The legal interpretation shocked campaign-finance watchdogs and
some<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D2
  face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Texas</span></font></st1:place></st1:State>
officials, who argued that it was tantamount to legalizing<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></p>

bribery in the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Lone</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Star</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
Under <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State>
law, elected officials,&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>board appointees and many other public officials are supposed =
to<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>disclose and describe any gift over =
$250.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&quot;This creates a loophole big enough to drive an armored car =
full
of<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>cash through,&quot; said Craig McDonald, director of the =
nonprofit group<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Texans for Public Justice. &quot;It makes a mockery of our =
ethics
laws.&quot;<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Ronnie Earle, the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Travis</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">County</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> district =
attorney
leading the<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>corruption prosecution of former House Majority Leader Tom =
DeLay,<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

called the interpretation absurd in a letter to the panel. He
joked&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>that <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State>
officials could reveal receiving a gift of a wheelbarrow,<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>&quot;without reporting that the wheelbarrow was filled with
cash.&quot;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>The issue came to light after Texans for Public Justice =
protested
a<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>disclosure filed last year by Bill Ceverha, a board member of =
the<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Employees Retirement System of Texas, which administers benefits
for<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>about 250,000 former state workers and oversees a $19.9 billion =
fund.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Ceverha reported a &quot;check&quot; from Bob Perry -- a =
<st1:City
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Houston</st1:place></st1:City> =
homebuilder<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>and major Republican Party benefactor who is the biggest =
political<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>donor in <st1:State w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State>
-- but did not state its amount. Perry is best known<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>nationally for funding the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad
campaign<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>against 2004 Democratic presidential candidate John =
Kerry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Perry and Ceverha both stated that the gifts were two checks =
for<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>$100,000, and were intended to help Ceverha defend himself =
against
a<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>civil suit related to his former role as the treasurer of a =
<st1:State
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:place></st1:State><span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

political action committee created by DeLay. Ceverha filed =
for&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>personal bankruptcy last year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Campaign finance watchdogs were outraged when the Texas =
Ethics<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Commission ruled that public officials who receive large sums =
as<span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>checks do not have to disclose the amount -- as long as they =
report
a<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

gift of a &quot;check&quot; and its origin. Critics argued that =
such a
loose&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>interpretation of the law allowed a big donor to give thousands =
to
a<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

candidate as a personal gift. The candidate could then act as if =
he&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>were funding his campaign out of his own =
pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>Some ethics panelists conceded there was a problem, but argued
that<span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

it was the wording of the law that needed to be fixed. =
State&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

lawmakers and Gov. Rick Perry have said they will consider
tightening&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>the restrictions next year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span>=
</font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>texgreen mailing list<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>texgreen@lists.gp-us.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt'>http://lists.gp-us.org/mailman/listinfo/texgreen<o:p></o:p></span=
></font></p>

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