Austin--During the first half of 2007—which was off-season for Texas political campaigns—state lawmakers and top state officials spent $9.5 million in political funds. Although this is a fraction of the $83 million that these officials spent in the preceding election year, it is a heap of money to spend between campaigns. Capitol Spending, a new report by Texans for Public Justice, analyzes where politicians blew all this money.
Researchers classified the $9.5 million in political expenditures into 12 spending categories. The top five categories accounted for 70 percent of all the money: Staff & Consultants (28 percent); Rent Payments (11 percent); Travel & Lodging (11 percent); Administrative/Office (10 percent); and Gifts/Charitable Contributions (10 percent). The report finds huge disparities in the gross amounts spent by Texas officials—as well as in what officials chose to spend this money on.
“This report reveals that many Texas politicians are using political funds to enhance their personal lifestyles,” said Texans For Public Justice Director Craig McDonald. “Some officials spent buckets of money on cushy capital apartments, luxury vehicles and corporate jets. These luxuries are ultimately paid for by special-interests who want access and favors.”
The legislators who reported the largest single political expenditures on housing were: Rep. Beverly Woolley ($13,200 for 6 months); Sen. Troy Fraser ($9,750 for 6 months); and Sen. Eliot Shapleigh ($7,750 for a year). The officials who reported the largest single travel expenditures were: Sen. John Carona ($61,930 to use his company’s aircraft); Attorney General Greg Abbott ($29,247 for a Ford campaign vehicle); Sen. Troy Fraser ($29,247 to Abilene Aero Travel); and Sen. Jeff Wentworth (a $20,309 Lexus lease).
Big-spending Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst spent close to $1.1 million in the first half of 2007. This was almost twice what No. 2 ranked Governor Rick Perry spent ($585,524). Dewhurst spent 67 percent of his enormous total on Staff & Consultants, including $392,247 to consultant Buddy Barfield.1 Governor Perry’s top expenditure categories were: Staff & Consultants, led by $35,000 to consultant David Carney; and Travel & Lodging, led by a $13,586 jaunt to Istanbul.
The $453,598 spent by embattled Speaker Tom Craddick accounted for one out of every 10 dollars spent by House members. The speaker spent 40 percent of his money on Staff & Consultants. The $60,703 he paid his daughter in the first half of 2007 accounted for a third of Craddick’s personnel expenditures. Craddick spent 15 percent of his funds on Food, Drinks & Events and another 15 percent on Travel & Lodging.
Sen. John Carona was the legislature’s No. 2 spender. Led by his aforementioned corporate jet expenditures, Travel & Lodging accounted for 32 percent of the $199,023 that Carona spent. Carona spent 19 percent of his funds on Gifts & Charitable Contributions, led by $14,397 in coin-dealer purchases. Carona poured another 14 percent of his funds into Food, Drinks & Events, including the $12,263 that he spent on six outings to Italian eatery Maggiano’s.
Other findings of Capitol Spending include:
