Burnt Orange Report

Another Complaint Filed Against Texas GOP

By Byron LaMasters

Public Citizen and Common Cause filed complaints against the Texas Republican Party on Friday for using corporate money for election activities during the 2002 cycle. The Austin American Statesman reports:

Public Citizen and Common Cause filed a criminal complaint Friday against the Republican Party of Texas, requesting an investigation into whether GOP officials illegally spent corporate money on election activities in 2002.

"The party claims to have spent an enormous sum on administrative costs in the 2002 elections," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of the Texas office of Public Citizen. "But when you look at their expense reports, you see payments for voters drives, list acquisition, political consultants and issues ads affecting state candidates."

State law prohibits using corporate and labor union money to pay for political expenses, but it allows the money to be spent on issue ads or the administrative expenses of running a political party or a political action committee.

Travis County Attorney David Escamilla said Friday that he would review the complaint before deciding whether it warrants an investigation.

Republican Party officials say $2.2 million in corporate cash was legally transferred to and spent by its federal committee, the Texas Republican Congressional Committee. Party officials designated all general election expenses as administrative, including money for a television commercial and direct mail.

Of course, Republicans are trying to shrug off the complaints as a smear by Democrats:

On Friday, Rene Diaz, the GOP's general counsel, said the accusation by Public Citizen and Common Cause is without merit. If there was anything to the allegation, Diaz said, the Federal Election Commission would have investigated it years ago.

He said the complaint is part of a smear campaign by Texas Democrats.

No surprises here. When they break and bend the rules, the GOP tends to do two things. Change the subject and blame the Democrats. Lets hope it doesn't work this time.