Perry, Craddick and Dewhurst paid seven figure tribute to Abramoff lobbyists with Texas taxpayer dollars
EDITORIAL: Texas' connection to partisan lobbying
January 25, 2006
EDITORIAL BOARD
Austin American-Statesman
Copyright 2006
Gov. Rick Perry's seven-figure contracts for Washington lobbyists to do what taxpayers already pay a governmental relations staff to do looks like nothing more than partisan back scratching.
At the direction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the GOP made lobbying a partisan activity. Under the plan, known as the K Street project, lobbying firms had to hire Republican loyalists, including some congressional staff members, to gain access to the GOP leadership. It was a perfect loop.
Perry gained access to that loop by hiring firms closely connected to DeLay and paying them more than $1 million. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick also signed off on the lobbying contracts, presented by the governor's staff.
One contract went to Drew Maloney, who had served as DeLay's chief of staff. Another, for $330,000, went to lobbyist Todd Boulanger and his firm, Cassidy & Associates, last year in a questionable process. Boulanger is identified as a close associate of Jack Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in a wide-ranging lobbying scandal.
Since Texas already has an established state-federal relations office with 12 staff members in Washington, paying more than $1 million for lobbyists connected to DeLay creates a distinct odor. Despite explanations from Perry's office, it appears that Texas had little need for expensive lobbyists.
Apparently, no governor prior to Perry found it necessary to hire beltway lobby firms, which adds to the smell emanating from these contracts. The circular connection of large amounts of taxpayer money, Republican cronies and the K Street lobbyists is not coincidence. Nor is it a matter of "everybody does it." According to Democratic critics, no other state hires lobbyists to supplement their governmental relations staffs.
Democrats have a right to complain. All that money went to lobbyists who never bothered to contact the Democratic members of Congress from Texas. It was a partisan effort, like the K Street project itself and this state's 2003 congressional redistricting fiasco.
A Perry spokeswoman said the firms were paid to lobby members from other states, but that's not what the records show. Boulanger's firm, for instance, was paid to organize a luncheon for Texas House and Senate legislative directors.
Largely under DeLay's direction, the Republicans created a continuous loop of power and influence. It was as simple as directing lobbying firms to hire former staff members if they wanted access to congressional leadership, and as complicated as channeling campaign funds through several different entities to wash it.
DeLay's influence was so intense that he demanded the Texas Legislature redistrict the state in mid-census to increase GOP power in Washington. And on his whim, Texas Republicans complied.
In light of all that, Perry's lobbying contracts look like another sop to curry favor with the Republican power brokers. It's a shame that Texas taxpayers had to foot the bill for nothing more than tribute.
© 2005 Austin American-Statesman: www.statesman.com
January 25, 2006
EDITORIAL BOARD
Austin American-Statesman
Copyright 2006
Gov. Rick Perry's seven-figure contracts for Washington lobbyists to do what taxpayers already pay a governmental relations staff to do looks like nothing more than partisan back scratching.
At the direction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the GOP made lobbying a partisan activity. Under the plan, known as the K Street project, lobbying firms had to hire Republican loyalists, including some congressional staff members, to gain access to the GOP leadership. It was a perfect loop.
Perry gained access to that loop by hiring firms closely connected to DeLay and paying them more than $1 million. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick also signed off on the lobbying contracts, presented by the governor's staff.
One contract went to Drew Maloney, who had served as DeLay's chief of staff. Another, for $330,000, went to lobbyist Todd Boulanger and his firm, Cassidy & Associates, last year in a questionable process. Boulanger is identified as a close associate of Jack Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in a wide-ranging lobbying scandal.
Since Texas already has an established state-federal relations office with 12 staff members in Washington, paying more than $1 million for lobbyists connected to DeLay creates a distinct odor. Despite explanations from Perry's office, it appears that Texas had little need for expensive lobbyists.
Apparently, no governor prior to Perry found it necessary to hire beltway lobby firms, which adds to the smell emanating from these contracts. The circular connection of large amounts of taxpayer money, Republican cronies and the K Street lobbyists is not coincidence. Nor is it a matter of "everybody does it." According to Democratic critics, no other state hires lobbyists to supplement their governmental relations staffs.
Democrats have a right to complain. All that money went to lobbyists who never bothered to contact the Democratic members of Congress from Texas. It was a partisan effort, like the K Street project itself and this state's 2003 congressional redistricting fiasco.
A Perry spokeswoman said the firms were paid to lobby members from other states, but that's not what the records show. Boulanger's firm, for instance, was paid to organize a luncheon for Texas House and Senate legislative directors.
Largely under DeLay's direction, the Republicans created a continuous loop of power and influence. It was as simple as directing lobbying firms to hire former staff members if they wanted access to congressional leadership, and as complicated as channeling campaign funds through several different entities to wash it.
DeLay's influence was so intense that he demanded the Texas Legislature redistrict the state in mid-census to increase GOP power in Washington. And on his whim, Texas Republicans complied.
In light of all that, Perry's lobbying contracts look like another sop to curry favor with the Republican power brokers. It's a shame that Texas taxpayers had to foot the bill for nothing more than tribute.
© 2005 Austin American-Statesman:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, January 25, 2006
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