House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's legal expense fund accepted improper contributions from two registered lobbyists in 2001 and this week returned the checks, totaling $3,500, fund trustee Brent Perry said Tuesday.House rules prohibit lobbyists from making contributions to a member's legal defense fund. The Tom DeLay Legal Expense Trust has raised more than $900,000 since its creation in 2000, said Perry, a Houston attorney.
We are talking about 0.38% of the fund. The Comical never misses an opportunity to bash Tom DeLay (primarily over his opposition to Federal funding of the Metrorail boondoggle).
Under House rules, donors to such funds may contribute a maximum of $5,000 per year and contributions can be made by individuals, political action committees and corporate or union treasuries.
So a PAC can give money and $3,500 is less than $5,000.
Public Citizen, which did return a call for comment, has initiated a "Dethrone DeLay" effort, calling on the Sugar Land Republican to step down.
They'd like that, wouldn't they? Can't beat him at the polls so achieve the goal "by any means necessary". I wonder where they stood on the Clinton impeachment over perjury in a sexual harassment case.
HOUSTON PING
The timing, language and approach of the paper's editorials would, of course, be the decision of the Editorial Board. But I suggest that they could be built upon and informed by a news-feature package with an equally specific focus: Telling the story of rail here by examining the long term relationship of the two key players in the local transit wars -- Rep. Tom DeLay and former Mayor Bob Lanier. For better or worse, (mostly worse, I would argue) no two have had a more significant impact on transit decisions here. Our readers deserve to know how they've operated to fund and promote an anti-rail agenda for the past two decades. This would be vital information for voters as they come to their decision on rail. It would also be highly entertaining read.
There exists a vast left wing conspiracy to get Tom DeLay out of office.
Wasn't that request for assistance at the time when the Democrats illegally left the state, camped out in hotels while refusing to do their jobs, but holding hysterical press conferences every day? Funny how a little detail like THAT escaped this intrepid "reporter" (/sarcasm).
Tom, dontcha know that you are only allowed to accept campaign donations from Chinese Communists and wives of Public Enemies.
I wonder where they stand on the Sandy Berger theft!
The Comical continues their witchhunt.