[ Report Home | Previous Page | Next Page ] Governor Perry’s War Chest: Who Said ‘Yes’ To ‘Governor No’?   V. Tort Money

 

Tort Group	Amount
Texans for Lawsuit Reform (PAC & members)	$3,093,255
Texas Civil Justice League (PAC & members)	$1,624,716
TOTAL:	$4,717,971

A huge bloc of Perry’s money comes from business interests from a variety of industries that share a common interest in limiting the legal liabilities that businesses face when they harm consumers, workers or communities. Perry received $4.7 million, or 14 percent of all his money, from members and PACs of the two leading business groups that seek such liability limits: Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) and the Texas Civil Justice League (TCJL).¹²  A 2001 Dallas Morning News analysis of Perry’s donors identified TLR supporters as “the single largest source of campaign funds for Mr. Perry.”¹³

These interests have been a major bastion of financial support for Perry, who has championed their cause. Indeed, when Perry hired lobbyist Patricia Shipton as his Legislative Affairs Director in December 2001, her top client was TCJL.

In Perry’s hand, the gubernatorial veto pen has advanced this business tort agenda. While Perry is best known for vetoing the “prompt-pay bill” opposed by HMOs and TLR, he also vetoed several other bills that would have made individuals and businesses more legally accountable for their actions. One such bill would have barred insurers from interfering with the duty that attorneys owe to clients who have disputes with insurance companies.¹⁴  Like prompt-pay, this bill was opposed by Michael Toomey, a lobbyist for both TLR and HMOs and a close friend of Perry. Perry also vetoed bills that would have made it easier for people to pursue wrongful-death and medical-expense claims on behalf of family members who are minors or elderly.¹⁵