In a staggering act of arrogance, Big Insurance/Big Energy Lobbyist and HD-32 candidate Todd Hunter continues to refuse to give up his tax records (unlike Juan Garcia). His latest reason? It might confuse people. From yesterday¹s Corpus Christi Caller-Times article, "Fees Hunter Received For Lobbying Are Unclear".
Hunter's opponent in the race for Texas House District 32, State Rep. Juan Garcia, D-Corpus Christi, has repeatedly raised questions about Hunter's lobbyist ties and has also renewed calls for Hunter to release his tax returns for 10 years.
They claim he has been paid between $1.6 million and $2.9 million, estimates based on adding the lowest of the reported ranges and the highest of the reported ranges.
"You know, he could clear all of this up if he would release his tax records," Garcia said Thursday.
The Hunter camp says no, disclosing his personal income tax records may not clear up any of this up, because some of the lobbying checks may have gone to his law firm.
Over four months ago at a candidate forum, Rep. Garcia and Hunter both agreed to release their tax records. Garcia released his unconditionally. Hunter has continued to refuse, even conditioning their release on Commander Garcia's military records.
In an attempt to deceive the public, Hunter campaign consultant Steve Ray (who has cost Hunter over $82,000 in fees during the 6-month period between January 2008 and June 2008 according to the Hunte's July 15, 2008 Campaign Finance Report), said that Hunter has made disclosures.
To date, the only disclosures that Hunter made are investment disclosures, which are silent on the amounts he has made over the last 10 years of lobbying for insurance and energy companies. In those years, Todd Hunter's overall lobby contracts totaled up to as much as $3.6 million dollars
At another candidate forum, a citizen outraged that Hunter (who never served in the military) would demand Garcia's Navy records as a condition of releasing his own tax records, challenged him to produce his Selective Service Draft records. Hunter stunned the gathering by responding that he couldn't remember if the draft was active when he was in college. In this heavily-military community, which has given disproportionately both in Vietnam and in the Desert, this will not be forgotten.
Why do you now conveniently forget whether or not there was a draft? Why are you now ashamed of being a Big Insurance/Big Energy Lobbyist? It has been over 100 days since Hunter agreed to release his records, what's the hold up? |
