Armstrong Ranch: A 20-gauge shotgun worth $2,073 that Katharine Armstrong and 10 other friends gave to Karl Rove

Armstrong Ranch: A 20-gauge shotgun worth $2,073 that Katharine Armstrong and 10 other friends gave to Karl Rove

The state election code prohibits contributions from labor organizations and from most corporations.

The state election code prohibits contributions from labor organizations and from most corporations. (Elec. Code § 253.091, et seq.) And according to a published report, Texans for Taxpayer Relief will be “funded at least in part with corporate money.” And when asked to defend the planned use of corporate money, Perry’s state spokeswoman said, "The tobacco companies are using corporate money to attack the tax bill" (Texas Weekly, Volume 22, Issue 41, Apr. 17, 2006). In short, corporate funds appear to be funding ads to further an officeholder activity of Governor Perry, raising serious legal issues.

The ads also may be an illegal corporate contribution because they appear coordinated with Governor Perry. The law appears clear that corporate-funded ads, even clearly those that are issue ads, are considered electioneering or officeholder activity if coordinated with a candidate or officeholder. Rick Perry’s personal involvement with this ad campaign appears to belie any claim that Texans for Taxpayer Relief’s ads operate independently from his official duties as Texas Governor....

Check out the letter here.

You figure after the corruption scandals dealing directly with corporate contributions (Texan for Republican Majority (TRMPAC), Texas Association of Business (TAB) and Tom Delay and Co.), you would think they would leave well enough alone. It is almost like they want to go to jail.

Getting directly to the point, Bell states “After four years of fighting the effects of corporate money in Texas politics, I am greatly disturbed that Rick Perry is raising unlimited corporate donations from the very same businesses that will benefit from his plan. This is exactly what I’m talking about when I say Rick Perry is taking ethics lessons from Tom DeLay.”

Ronnie Earle once said: "The reason corporations and labor unions are not allowed to give money to campaigns is because they are not individual people. They are things. And to allow things to control elections makes a mockery of government by the people.... If we allow corporations to control elections, we will destroy democracy."

Amen.

UPDATE: Via Quorum Report, Ronnie Earle responds to Bell's request.

"When a complaint alleging criminal conduct on the part of a candidate in an election or someone acting on his or her behalf is made by an opposing candidate or someone acting on his or her behalf, it is the policy of this office to monitor the situation but not take action until after the election, except in extraordinary circumstances.

"When the alleged criminal conduct involves actions by a third party, different considerations attach and each case is evaluated on its own merits and action is taken where warranted."[Emphasis added]

Hmmm... I bet the lawyers for the corporations that gave to this campaign have had their phones ringing off the hook today. Remember, you get a better deal if you flip early.

http://theredstate.typepad.com/texas/tom_delay/index.html