Fleeing Texas Democrats face new probe

AP | 8/13/03 | BOBBY ROSS JR.

[kattracks]

DALLAS (AP) — The Texas Republican Party is seeking a federal investigation into whether 11 state Senate Democrats who fled to New Mexico violated campaign finance laws by flying there in a bank's private jet.

The GOP made the announcement Tuesday after the mostly Democrat-less Senate approved a resolution to fine each missing lawmaker $1,000 a day, with the fine doubling for each missed session, but not to exceed $5,000 a day.

The Democrats, who have been in Albuquerque, N.M., for more than two weeks, have brought the Senate to a standstill by denying it a quorum to take up a GOP plan for congressional redistricting, an issue that has failed to pass twice this year. House Democrats fled the state for four days in May to block the redistricting bill in the regular session.

Texas Democratic Party Consultant Jeff Crosby said the Senators had checked with the Texas Ethics Commission on the use of the private plane.

"Everything they did was legal and proper," he said. "This is a completely frivolous complaint."

But Texas GOP chairwoman Susan Weddington called it "a blatant abuse of campaign finance laws that cannot be tolerated."

Democratic leaders have said the plane was donated by David Rogers, president of the First National Bank of Edinburg. However, online records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration show no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank, The Associated Press confirmed.

Weddington said a federal law prohibits national banks from making many different types of political contributions.

"We have rules against companies and national banks making political contributions, and the First National Bank of Edinburg and the Democrats that fled our state obviously have little regard for these laws," she said.

Weddington sent a letter seeking "an immediate investigation" to Archie L. Bransford Jr., deputy comptroller of the Comptroller of the Currency's Southeastern District office in Atlanta, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department that regulates national banks.

Bransford did not immediately return a telephone call Wednesday.

The Democrats also contend the fines passed by the Senate are illegal, saying Senate rules for sanctions call for nothing more than arrest by the Senate sergeant-at-arms.

"I won't pay it," said state Sen. Rodney Ellis.

Several said they would not be persuaded to return to Austin.

"We want our members and our colleagues back so that we can take up these issues before us and get on with our lives," said Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate.

Dewhurst cited a decision delivered Tuesday by state Attorney General Greg Abbott that senators have no constitutional right to break a quorum and that the Texas Constitution authorizes the remaining senators to compel their attendance.

[justlurking]

If he has a lien on the plane (i.e., financing) through the bank, then the owner would be the bank, right?

No, the records in question are FAA registration records:

http://registry.faa.gov/arquery.asp

It appears the planes in question are these:

http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/nnumsql.asp?NNumbertxt=711NB
http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/nnumsql.asp?NNumbertxt=721NB

If that's the case, the story is in error: these are not actual airplanes, but N-number reservations.

Wouldn't that make it legal?

No, it wouldn't. But, I'm not sure the claim of ownership by the bank is valid.

[ShakeNJake]

Do a query on "First National Bank" at the site you give.

The first of 20 records returned is a plane registered to the First National Bank of Edinburg, Texas, N168ET.

The third record on the list is for N709VP also registered to the First National Bank of Edinburg, Texas.

[ShakeNJake]

And a search on David Rogers returns "no records found for your request". He doesn't own the planes, the bank owns them.

[justlurking]

The first of 20 records returned is a plane registered to the First National Bank of Edinburg, Texas, N168ET.

I missed that, thanks. I was looking for an executive jet, instead of a Beech King Air 300 or a Cessna 650 (both are turbo-props).

I did do a lookup on N709VP, though. It was named in one of the number changes. But, for some reason I didn't come up with a hit -- I must have done something wrong.

It looks like the N-number registrations are pending changes for the two planes: they are going to switch them to nearly consecutive "vanity" N-numbers (the "NB" at the end, which is commonly used to depict the owner's initials).

[justlurking]

And a search on David Rogers returns "no records found for your request".

Actually, that wouldn't be surprising even if he did own the planes. A lot of people register their planes in the name of a holding company, for various reasons.

I also finally found out what happened to my plane. Everytime I did a search on it in other databases, I came up empty. This one has an entry saying that the plane had been exported. What a shame -- I was hoping to encounter it again someday.

[deport]

The following also list another name as one who donated the use of the planes......

When Mr. Dewhurst left the room the second time to convene the day's Senate session, a cluster of reporters followed him. The senators then left the conference room and headed downstairs to waiting cars bound for the airport, where two private jets awaited. They belonged to constituents of Sen. Juan Hinojosa of McAllen – the David Rogers and Joe LaMantia families. Mr. Hinojosa said the transportation would be regarded as an in-kind contribution to the Democratic caucus.

[expatpat]

No, the records at the FAA are most probably titles to official ownership. This is more likely a case of a company president treating aircraft owned by his corporation as his own.

[MeekOneGOP]

And I bet they DON'T pay their fines and NOTHING will ever become of this.

I hope I am proved WRONG too ...

Fleeing Texas Democrats face new probe

Excerpt:

But Texas GOP chairwoman Susan Weddington called it "a blatant abuse of campaign finance laws that cannot be tolerated."

Democratic leaders have said the plane was donated by David Rogers, president of the First National Bank of Edinburg. However, online records kept by the Federal Aviation Administration show no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank, The Associated Press confirmed.

Weddington said a federal law prohibits national banks from making many different types of political contributions.

"We have rules against companies and national banks making political contributions, and the First National Bank of Edinburg and the Democrats that fled our state obviously have little regard for these laws," she said.

Weddington sent a letter seeking "an immediate investigation" to Archie L. Bransford Jr., deputy comptroller of the Comptroller of the Currency's Southeastern District office in Atlanta, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department that regulates national banks.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

[Texagirl4W]

Is Mayor Miller's (Dallas) husband amount the fleeing democrats this time also?

[mathluv]

He is in the House, not the Senate. that is why he was in OK the last time.

[ShakeNJake]

Interesting. So, he could have a holding company set up using the bank's name and thus registered the planes under the bank's name?

I also noticed that the First National Bank of Borger owned a plane. I used to work there many many years ago. I was the admin to the commercial loan officer.

[justlurking]

So, he could have a holding company set up using the bank's name and thus registered the planes under the bank's name?

No, what I meant is that the absence of his name in the registry doesn't necessarily mean he does not own a plane. I don't think the State of Texas will allow incorporation with a name that is already in use by another business.

It's pretty clear that the bank does indeed own two planes. However, unless one can determine the tail numbers of the planes that were used, you can't conclusively say those planes were used.

[Gracey]

Just in... www.quoromreport.com

August 13, 2003 5:03 PM

NM: SENATE DEMOCRATS FEAR LAY OFF OF CAPITOL STAFF

Perry confirms he will call more special sessions
Senate Democrats say they are hearing rumors that their Capitol staff will be laid off Friday once the lawmakers fail to return to Austin and fail to pay their non-attendance fines.

"We have all heard the rumors and we are dismayed," said Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville). "We are hearing that our Republican colleagues came very close to discharging our staff at their private meeting yesterday. I would implore them not to go down that route."

Lucio said he detected anxiety and even some despair among the Democrats’ staff. He said rumors were now swirling round the Capitol that Senate Democrats would lose their chairmanships.

"These are good people who are working hard for the state," he said. "They do not deserve to be penalized just because we are fighting for our districts. They should not be the victims of the Senate meltdown."

[Gracey]

Unbelievable, if this is true. Our Republicans are playing HARDBALL. Wow!!!

GO PERRY GO!!!!!

[MEG33]

They shouldn't be punished for the cowardly,deceptive,costly tantrum throwing of their bosses you mean,you cowardly DIM!Soon to become deadbeats on their fines,too.GRrrrrr

[Ann Archy]

Soooo...who's Paying for their HOTEL Rooms....certainly not the Marriott I hope.

[CyberAnt]

"no planes in Rogers' name, but two owned by the bank"

Sooooo .. I guess Rogers gave "a donation" of something he doesn't own ... Hmmmmm ..?? ROTFLOL!

The more scrutiny the dems are under - the more blatant is the rule breaking! Stunning arrogance - right in our face!! These people better hope they can't be recalled - cause I think the public may be getting fed up with these antics.

[ChewedGum]

Lucio said he detected anxiety and even some despair among the Democrats’ staff. He said rumors were now swirling round the Capitol that Senate Democrats would lose their chairmanships.

Keep up the pressure guys, and make the babies cry.

Gum

[Ann Archy]

I think Mr. Rogers could be in a little hot water.

[Dog Gone]

"These are good people who are working hard for the state," he said. "They do not deserve to be penalized just because we are fighting for our districts. They should not be the victims of the Senate meltdown."

Lucio can stop it right now by boarding a Southwest flight to Austin. He caused the meltdown.