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Texas Democratic Party News
Message from TDP Chair Boyd Richie
Jul 16th
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Dear Fellow Democrat,
Betty and I want to thank everyone who participated in the 2010 Democratic Primary and particularly the Delegates and Alternates to the recent TDP Convention in Corpus Christi.
Largely due to the efforts of our enthusiastic Delegates, tireless volunteers and dedicated staff the Convention was a great success. We crafted a platform our Party can be proud of, heard stirring speeches from our candidates and office holders, and departed in high spirits, united and ready for the upcoming campaign.
In preparing for November, I encourage you to visit our TDP website where you will find our Party’s position on issues, press releases–with great talking points–and other resources to help local parties and candidates reach our goals. While you’re there I urge you to become a Texas Majority Builder. Our Democratic Party works best when it is democratically financed and you can help a lot for only $10 a month.
Thanks again for your commitment and participation and thanks for supporting our Party and our candidates. Let’s work together to turn Texas blue in 2010.
Your friend and fellow Democrat,
Boyd L. Richie
Chairman
Texas Democratic Party
Popularity: 1% [?]
Ethics Complaint Filed Against Gov. Rick Perry
Jun 18th
ETHICS COMPLAINTS FILED: PERRY FAILED TO DISCLOSE $202,400 DEBT ON COLLEGE STATION HOUSE IN 2007, 2008, 2009
July 6th, 2010
Perry Also Failed to Report Rental Income from House He Claimed as Residential Homestead While Living in Rental Mansion
Last Friday, Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Ruben Hernandez filed two complaints with the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) regarding Rick Perry’s failure to properly report required information on his personal financial statements in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Perry failed to report the identity of the person who had an interest and to whom he paid notes on a house he bought in College Station, Texas in April, 2007. Perry also failed to report rental income on the house on his 2007 and 2008 PFS.
“For three years, the Governor failed to report over $200,000 in debt he owed on a house in College Station, as well as over $11,000 in rental income he received from the property,” Hernandez explained, noting that Perry’s reporting failure involved the same house he tried to claim as his residential homestead on January 1, 2008, while he was living in a taxpayer funded rental mansion west of Austin before the Governor’s Mansion caught fire, according to Associated Press reports from August 12 and 13, 2009. The Texas Constitution requires the Governor to live in Austin.
“While Rick Perry was living in a taxpayer-funded rental mansion, he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar when he claimed a residential homestead exemption on a College Station house where he never lived,” Hernandez said, “and for three years, the Governor didn’t report his debt on that same house, as required by law.”
Hernandez noted that just a few weeks ago, a non partisan organization, Texans for Public Justice, filed a TEC complaint because the Governor failed to itemize expenditures related to his rental mansion. He also observed that Perry surely understood the debt reporting requirement, because Perry has reported similar debts during his twenty five year political career, including a car loan on a Mercedes Benz.
“Apparently Rick Perry has a problem following ethics laws when it come to housing, and it makes you wonder what he’s trying to hide,” Hernandez concluded.
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Brief description of complaint attached. View complain at txdemocrats.org
Summary of TEC Complaints
1. Complaint: Perry Failed to Disclose $202,400 in Debt on Personal Financial Statements in 2007, 2008, 2009
Rick Perry violated Texas Government Code, Sec. 572.022(c)(2) because he failed to disclose the identity of a person who retained an interest in real property that he owned and he also violated Sec. 572.022(b)(5) because he failed to identify a person to whom notes were due in his Personal Financial Statements for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
- According to the records of the Brazos Co. Appraisal District, on April 11, 2007, Perry bought a house at 1016 Leopard St. in College Station.
- According to the Brazos Co. Abstract Company, the property was subject to a deed of trust executed in favor of PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company, dated April 11, 2007, securing a note for $179,900 and a subordinate deed of trust executed in favor of the same lender, dated on the same date, securing a note for $22,500 until February 9, 2010.
- According to copies of tax returns, Perry claimed a deduction from his federal income taxes based on the interest he paid on the mortgage for this house.
- Although Perry disclosed his ownership of the house on his Personal Financial Statements in 2007, 2008 and 2009, he did not disclose the associated debt or the identity of the lender who retained an interest in the property via deeds of trust during each of those years.
Texas Government Code Sec. 573.022(c)(2) requires the disclosure of PrimeLending -PlainsCapital as “persons retaining an interest in the property.” Perry also should have disclosed the notes pursuant to Sec. 572.022(b)(5), which requires the “identification of each guarantor of a loan and identification of each person or financial institution to whom a personal note or notes or lease agreement for a total financial liability in excess of $1,000 at any time during the year, and the category of the amount of the liability”
2. Complaint: Rick Perry violated Texas Government Code Sec, 572.022(b)(4) because he failed to disclose rental income of his Personal Financial Statements in 2007 and 2008.
- According to Pick Perry’s 2007 and 2008 tax returns, he received rental income of $5,200 and $6,240, respectively for a house at 1016 Leopard St. in College Station. Perry did not disclose this rental income on his Personal Financial Statements for 2007 and 2008.
Texas Government Code Sec. 572.022(b)(4) requires the disclosure “of each source and the category of the amount of income in excess of $500 derived from each source from interest, dividends, royalties and rent of this rental income.”
Popularity: 2% [?]
Green Party Fighting for Place on Texas Ballot
Jun 18th
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| Follow us: On the Web | Facebook | or Text LONESTAR to 388873 | |
| June 16, 2010 Contact: Matt Angle (202) 547-7610 – Fax (202) 547- 8258 Green Party Chair Hires Infamous GOP Lawyer Andy Taylor
Any doubt that the Green Party of Texas is willingly being used by high profile Republicans with connections to Rick Perry can now be set aside. With an ethical cloud hanging over the Republican-Green Party petition collaboration, notorious GOP attorney Andy Taylor has signed on to represent a Green Party of Texas Co-Chair. As Greg Abbott’s assistant, Taylor earned his spurs as a Republican legal henchman, and since has represented prominent Republicans Tom DeLay and David Dewhurst, and even an ethically troubled back bench Republican like Rep. Dwayne Bohac. As the Lone Star Project has reported, the Green Party of Texas allowed out of state right wing activists to funnel money through a secret donor to a nonprofit organization in order to finance a signature gathering operation and qualify for candidates to appear on the Texas ballot. The Texas Democratic Party filed suit in order to force disclosure of the secret donor and block the improper use of corporate or other illegal funds to finance a ballot petition effort. Who is Andy Taylor?
Perhaps most interesting is his relationship with Rick Perry. Andy Taylor has such a close relationship with Rick Perry that when Perry was looking to fill vacancies on the Texas Supreme Court, he asked Andy Taylor to interview, “potential candidates and [assess] their strengths and weaknesses.” (Source: Texas Monthly, February, 2005) Deal with the Devil Comments from Lone Star Project Director Matt Angle “The Republicans have invested at least a quarter million dollars to get Green Party candidates on the ballot. Now, they’ve brought in their legal hired-gun to protect the investment.” “Andy Taylor stands for everything the Green Party says it is against. He will ultimately betray them.” |
Popularity: 4% [?]
A Message from TDP Chair Boyd Richie
Jun 17th
Dear Fellow Democrat,
Texas summer is here, and it’s already a scorcher! It’s the perfect time to Turn Up the Heat on Texas Republicans, from the Governor’s rental mansion on over to the State House. We have a real chance this year to take the People’s House back from tone-deaf Republicans whose agendas don’t align with Texans’ priorities.
Help the Texas Democratic Party turn up the heat on House Republicans. Help us raise another $15,000 before our State Democratic Convention on June 25th to spread the word – Texas Democrats offer a real alternative to extreme right-wing policies, and real hope for the future.
Help us Turn Up the Heat on Texas Republican Legislators like Leo Berman from House District 6. Berman is known for pushing hard right policies and was recently quoted saying that President Obama was “God’s punishment on us.” He also joined Debbie Riddle from House District 150 in announcing plans to introduce an Arizona-style immigration bill, adding that he did not “care if we’re racially profiling or not.” And representing House District 144, controversial Republican extremist Ken Legler once spoke vehemently on the House floor against paying into the Texas Veterans Fund, and even voted against installing fire sprinklers and emergency power generators in nursing homes.
These Republicans believe that government doesn’t work – and then, once elected, they prove it. It’s time to throw the bums out. Contribute today to support the Texas Democratic Party in our bid to return common-sense values and honest priorities to our government.
Your support allows the Texas Democratic Party to provide Democratic candidates up and down the ballot with the resources they need to win. Raising $25,000 by June 25th will allow us to fund the Texas voter file, candidate and campaign training, and an experienced full-time Party staff. Contribute today to our efforts to turn Texas blue – and help us put a stop to the reckless and extremist behavior of House Republicans like Riddle, Berman, Legler, and others.
Thank you for all your support and for all you do to Move Texas Forward. We couldn’t do it without you.
Your fellow Democrat,
Boyd L. Richie
Chairman
Texas Democratic Party
Popularity: 2% [?]
