Brian Thompson has had a lot of ammo to keep Dawnna Dukes in the news over the past week. As Paul Burka points out on his site, "Thompson was in a heads-I-win, tails-you-lose position". All because of $50,000 tied to Tom Craddick.
Rep. Dukes suggests that accepting $50,000 from a Craddick-funded PAC equates to sacrificing or compromising her "independence" in the race for Texas House Speaker. According to the Statesman article, "Campaign cash was hard to come by in January in Texas House District 46, which includes East Austin, but Rep. Dawnna Dukes still passed on an offer of $50,000 that came indirectly from House Speaker Tom Craddick. 'The contribution was available,' Dukes confirmed Wednesday. But she said that she didn't want to be distracted by what she anticipated would be attacks by her opponent if she took the money and that she wanted to remain independent to support the speaker candidate that's best for the district."
"This sounds like Rep. Dukes is acknowledging that $50,000 was linked to a vote for Speaker of the Texas House," said Brian Thompson, the Democratic candidate who is challenging Dukes in HD 46. "Our ethics laws do not look too favorably on a $50,000 quid pro quo."
Even though Dukes publicly said no to Craddick's money she seems to have spent a few cents on billboards in Austin. The message is bizarre for a Craddick D. Dukes claims she, "fights for change and wins." Interesting since she continues to vote and support the most conservative speaker in Texas History.
The change she has won includes:
- Dukes voted against fully funding CHIP
- Dukes voted against giving our retired teachers a cost-of-living adjustment
- Dukes voted against cleaning up dirty school buses to reduce cancer causing pollution that Texas kids are forced to breathe on their way to school
- Dukes could have killed a Republican tax bill that raised taxes on 90% of Texans and did nothing for public education but, instead, she was vacationing in France
- Dukes has violated state law by failing to properly report more than $89,000 in "campaign" credit card expenses, which earned her a well-deserved ethics complaint
- Dukes supported toll roads, and her sister received a contract from the tolling authority - perhaps it was merely a coincidence (inspiring videos like this)
- Dukes passes a bill for a tenant of a local development never to disclose that she has a personal contract with the developer
While Dukes publicly sells out and continues to support Tom Craddick and refuse to pledge for a candidate besides ultra conservative Tom Craddick, Thompson publicly endorsed Thompson.
Brian Thompson, Democratic candidate for HD 46, announced that he is supporting Democratic State Rep. and Chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus, The Honorable Senfronia Thompson, for Speaker of the Texas House.
"Of the candidates who are currently running for Speaker, no one better represents the values of House District 46 than the 34-year veteran legislator and Chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus, State Representative Senfronia Thompson," Brian Thompson said. "It's time for Democrats to start acting and voting like real Democrats, not enabling the failed Republican ideology of starving public schools and denying children health care which has characterized the Tom Craddick regime."
Dawnna Dukes is too close to Craddick, and that's why he wants to pay the coins to keep her in office. While Thompson continues to be an impressive candidate he is also looking forward to the 81st legislative session and pledging to support the best candidate for Speaker-Senfronia Thompson.
Voting starts in a little over a week at February 19th when early vote kicks off. It is time for a real change. Volunteer your time to help elect Brian Thompson or make a donation of any amount now. |
