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Strayhorn dismisses political attacks [TEXAS]
Star- Telegram ^ | John Moritz,

Posted on 08/11/2006 5:40:30 PM PDT by Dubya

Posted on Fri, Aug. 11, 2006

Strayhorn dismisses political attacks

AUSTIN — Independent candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn was under fire from her three main rivals in the governor’s race Friday amid allegations that she used her state staff in the comptroller’s office to perform campaign work and that she authorized nearly $130 million in tax refunds to clients of one of her most generous contributors.

Strayhorn, a Democrat-turned-Republican who switched to independent in January, dismissed the broadsides as “phony attacks’ from Austin insiders, and particularly from Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

“When you take on the governor and his Austin crowd, watch out,” Strayhorn told reporters after speaking with the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

The Perry camp launched the first salvo earlier in the week, posting video clips on the governor’s political Web site showing Strayhorn driving away from a campaign appearance in a state-owned sportutility vehicle after reading material compiled from her state staff. Independent candidate Kinky Friedman followed with a complaint asking Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle to examine whether Strayhorn had violated the law barring the use of state employees for political work.

On Friday, Democratic hopeful Chris Bell piled on, suggesting that Strayhorn had given favorable treatment on a tax case to a client of a key supporter. At issue was Strayhorn’s recent ruling that Texas Instruments was due a $128 million refund for overpayment of sales taxes.

TI is represented by the tax consulting firm of Ryan & Co., which through its political action committee and executive staff has given tens of thousand of dollars to Strayhorn during her two terms as comptroller.

“Using state employees for political purpose is illegal,” Bell said. “Giving gargantuan tax refunds that benefit your largest contributor is perfectly legal, but it’s worse.”

Bell said he would push for legislation barring anyone representing businesses in a tax dispute with the state from making campaign contributions to the comptroller.

Strayhorn pointed out that she is a full-time officeholder who heads one of the largest agencies in state government, but she rejected assertions that her office is subsidizing her campaign for governor.

“I am comptroller 24/7, and I build an absolute firewall between anything that’s political and the state office,” she said.

The Friedman camp, which is competing with Strayhorn for votes from Texans without allegiance to the major parties, said the comptroller is a veteran campaigner with adequate resources. Recent financial disclosure forms show Strayhorn with about $8 million in her account, second only to Perry among the four major candidates.

“I find it very difficult to understand why Comptroller Strayhorn would have put herself in the position of defending her actions while sitting on a campaign war chest of millions of dollars,” said Dean Barkley, Friedman’s campaign director. “She could have avoided these questions by simply paying her campaign staff to do this work.” John Moritz, 512-476-4294 jmoritz@star-telegram.com


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: corruption; election2006; electiongovernor

1 posted on 08/11/2006 5:40:31 PM PDT by Dubya
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To: Dubya

In Texas, football and politics are blood sports.


2 posted on 08/11/2006 5:47:02 PM PDT by ol' hoghead (***)
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To: ol' hoghead

They sure are.


3 posted on 08/11/2006 5:53:27 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Dubya

Granny Carole is an IINO!


4 posted on 08/12/2006 7:55:08 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Liberals-beyond your expectations!)
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To: SwinneySwitch

LOL Well I don't know what that means. I guess you have her pegged.


5 posted on 08/13/2006 1:47:15 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Dubya

IINO means Independent In Name Only. Most of her support comes from trial lawyers and teacher's unions


6 posted on 08/13/2006 4:39:25 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch (Liberals-beyond your expectations!)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Thank you for the info.


7 posted on 08/13/2006 6:04:58 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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To: Dubya

Perry has a great video that rips Carole "Four-Names-Three-Parties" Strayhorn:

http://www.rickperry.org/cks/OfficialBusiness.wmv


8 posted on 08/15/2006 8:41:18 PM PDT by NoTaxTexas (WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR NO NEW TAXES)
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To: NoTaxTexas

Thanks for the url.


9 posted on 08/17/2006 1:50:07 PM PDT by Dubya (Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,but by me)
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