Burnt Orange Report

Taking A Gamble

By Vince Leibowitz

Via the Houston Chronicle, gambling interests have made $1.4 million in campaign donations in the last year to statewide and legislative candidates.

No big surprise there, considering it's probably a foregone conclusion that gambling will play a big part in potential "solutions" to the school funding crisis.

The Chron notes:

A political action committee of Houston-based Maxxam Inc., owner of two racetracks where video slot machines might be allowed, was the largest single donor among pro-gambling contributors, giving $273,250, according to figures compiled by the Houston Chronicle.

[...]

Maxxam and other track owners gave a total of $1.2 million. Maxxam joined other track owners last fall in forming Keep Texas Running, a coalition dedicated to legalizing video slots at racetracks. Track owners say they are losing ground to tracks in states that have slots.

Two Native American tribes, the Alabama-Coushatta in East Texas and the Tigua in El Paso, together donated $87,500. Associations representing horse and dog breeders gave $90,035, and representatives of video slot technology companies contributed $68,500. Donations from dozens of lobbyists who represent those interests were not included in the Chronicle's tally.

Maxxam owns Sam Houston Race Park in Houston and Valley Race Park in Harlingen.

[Sylvester] Turner [author of the current gambling bill de jour] reported $4,000 in contributions from pro-slots interests. He received $1,000 from Maxxam PAC and $500 each from company Chairman Charles Hurwitz and Friedman.

Turner also received a donation from Big City Capital, a limited liability company based in Nevada. The company would like to see slot machines legalized in Texas, said Reggie Bashur, a lobbyist for Big City.

Big City Capital gave a total of $150,000 to various legislators and statewide officials.

[...]

Tina Benkiser, head of the Republican Party of Texas, issued a statement last week calling slots "a corrupt idea from a Democrat lawmaker."

Despite the Texas GOP's opposition to slot machines, large donations were made to the state's Republican leadership.

Maxxam PAC gave $50,000 to Gov. Rick Perry and $80,000 to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Republican and Democratic senators and representatives also received contributions.

Stars Over Texas, a PAC formed by House Republican leaders to support targeted legislative races, received $15,000 from the Maxxam PAC and $50,000 from Big City Capital.

Guess Tina Benkiser forgot that Perry's flip-flopped on this issue, and that (duh!) he's recieved a truckload of cash fom Maxxam, as did Dewhurst. Or maybe, Ms. Benkiser though Maxxam PAC was the political action committee affiliated with the popular men's magazine.

Or, maybe--and this is a novel idea--she's just blowing smoke and attempting to appeal to the party's far-right base.