[Texgreen] Some basic political reforms needed in Texas

[Roger Baker]

[Here are some notes made by a friend of mine on a presentation by  
Craig McDonald, who helped to bring down Tom Delay for corporate  
corruption. These are quite useful basic facts for understanding the  
nature of Texas politics. See link at bottom. -- Roger]


Craig McDonald, the director and founder of Texans for Public  
Justice, explained to the League of Women Voters 10/9/'06 how TPJ  
interns track the connection of money with elections.  Who's paying  
whom.  He said TPJ advocates five reforms that have been around for a  
while but have not had majority support, that vigilance is always  
required, and that every decade or so laws have to be rewritten  
because of new conditions and new loopholes contrived.

What's new is the extent of corporate influence.  It started with  
McKinley, who used mass advertising and flyers.  Corporations were  
big donors, and McKinley amassed a $70 million war chest, unheard of  
at the time.  His successor, Teddy Roosevelt, banned corporate  
participation in federal elections, a fundamental tool of activists  
today.  He was the first to promote public financing of elections,  
unsuccessfully.  Texas banned corporate money four years earlier and  
that was what nabbed Tom Delay.  Also Texas created a primary system  
designed to exclude blacks, which the Supreme Court knocked down  
thirty years later.

As for cash payments (that was what Watergate was really about), you  
could give $1000 to individuals, $5000 to PACs, but not in Texas.  No  
limit, except some limit for judicial offices.  A candidate will lend  
to his own campaign.  The winner is allowed to raise money to pay  
himself back.

Dollars determine political clout and what issues get talked about.  
Texas is good about releasing open records.  Private groups have to  
do the analysis.  In January '07 we'll get the full disclosure of  
current expenses.  Too few people have too much control.  Just 390  
people accounted for 60 percent of a candidate's donations.  $100  
donors make up just 3 to 5 percent, so there's little interest in the  
small donor.  An incumbent has access to big money -engulfing the  
system like one big amoeba, but he can't rock the boat.  So we get  
little choice.  Big money is from business, not labor, and there's no  
contest.  Big business always wins.

Craig gave us a rundown on what the four candidates for governor were  
spending, who the big donors were to whom, who had a good support  
base and who didn't, and closed with a description of the five  
reforms he recommends.

ONE:  There should be a limit, say $100,000, on mega-donating. Mega- 
donating got Bob (of Bob & Darlene) Perry his own state agency to  
protect his home-building business.

TWO: Stop the revolving door.  Going right away into the business  
that you were entrusted with overseeing is an immense conflict of  
interest.   Over half the states at least have a cooling off period.  
TPJ wants a permanent cooling off period.

THREE:  If the Legislature smells of conflict of interest, the  
Judicial is far worse.  Judges are allowed to raise money from any  
source.  For over half of them, lawyers are the mains source of  
campaign funds.  48 percent of the judges said money does influence  
outcomes.  And more money improves your chances of being heard.   TPJ  
recommends judges not be elected but appointed from local proposals,  
which usually recommend pretty good people.  That takes the money out  
of the picture and helps diversify candidates.  Then to be re-elected  
the judges must face the voters.  Now getting money from a law firm  
is not grounds for a judge's recusal (withdrawing from a case due to  
potential bias).  We should be ashamed of the present system.

FOUR:(Not directly money-related)  Texas should create an independent  
redistricting commission.

FIVE:  "    "     "      Legislators' vote should be recorded.  
Craddick said he would allow a bill to come to the floor "if there's  
support".

  TPJ has a publication, Lobby Watch, exposing spending behind  
different projects, for example, the "corridor", school financing,  
and Governor Perry's support for gambling.  Many checks came in to  
Gov. Perry from that interest.

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