More than $41 million raised in Texas politics in 2007

[sonias]

AAS 1/28/08
More than $41 million raised in Texas politics in 2007

AUSTIN — More than $41 million flowed through the Texas political system in 2007, according to fundraising reports, as politicians and special interest groups geared up for elections in 2008 and beyond.

A Houston Chronicle analysis of reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission found that Houston home builder Bob Perry topped the list of individual donors in Texas, giving more than $1 million to Texas candidates and political action committees last year.

Perry, who is not related to Gov. Rick Perry, was the top political donor in the nation in 2006, when he gave more than $16 million to state and federal candidates. In 2007, Perry mostly gave to Republicans, though some of his funds went to Democrats, the Chronicle reported.
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Rounding out the top five of individual donors were Harold Simmons, a Dallas investor who gave more than $650,000, with the largest recipient Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($250,000); T. Boone Pickens, a Dallas investor who gave $390,000, with the largest recipient Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($250,000); and Dallas' Crow family, real estate magnates who gave more than $320,000, with the largest recipient Texas Business for Clean Air ($100,000).

Houston Chronicle 1/27/08
Texas politics draws $41 million in 2007
Houston home builder Perry tops list again with most funds going to GOP

Three Dallas families who first showed up on campaign reports in 2006 as major Democratic financial players increased their commitments in 2007.

•Garrett and Cecilia Boone, founders of The Container Store, donated $290,000 to political groups last year, with most of that money going to the Democratic trust.
One of their daughters, Aimee, is the finance chair for the Texas Democratic party, and she donated $105,000 to the trust.

•Lee and Amy Fikes, Dallas philanthropists and oil investors, did not appear in the Texas Ethics Commission data base of donors prior to 2006. They gave $165,000 in 2007, mostly to the Democratic trust. Besides local philanthropy, Lee Fikes also is a director of the Federation of American Scientists.

•Naomi Aberly, another Dallas philanthropist, also jumped into the category of major donors in 2007, with $135,000 in contributions; again, mostly to the Democratic trust.
Baron said civic-minded business people are being driven to donate politically because they see a state government that is not working in the interests of average citizens.

"It's become so obvious in the last few years that people who are not normally interested in politics are now stepping up to the plate to help," Baron said.

Oh on that Texas Business for Clean Air - they're pro Nukes in case you were wondering. Oh sure let's not worry about the storage of the spent fuel rods. We'll leave that little problem to the next generation. :sarcasm:


Sonia