(Pro-GOP) Tex. Business Group In Furor Over Fliers

[Khephra]

AUSTIN -- Just before last fall's general election, the Texas Association of Business launched a colossal direct-mail campaign that delivered 4 million pro-Republican fliers to voters statewide. Voters in some districts received as many as eight mailings each.

In one close race, the mailings blasted first-term Texas Rep. Ann Kitchen, an Austin Democrat, for her voting record on education and business legislation. Her Republican opponent, Todd Baxter, won handily, a result many Democratic leaders attribute to the fliers.

Kitchen was just one of many Democratic casualties: Seventeen association-backed candidates in 22 contested races for state representative won, paving the way for the first Republican-controlled Texas House in more than 130 years. The association, which functions as the state's Chamber of Commerce, crowed about the campaign's influence and eagerly took credit for the GOP coup.

"These ads had a tremendous impact on some of our Democratic candidates who were solid leaders, or would have been," said Molly Beth Malcolm, the state Democratic chairwoman.

more...............

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51321-2003Jul13.html

[Nambe]

1. The undiclosed donar snafoo.

The timing is pretty good for '04. If this is held up in court, it will slow down the oncoming Texas GOP.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

2. "This was a calculated effort to systemically avoid the law," - DA

rePubs disingenuous about campaign finance reform...??? naw, just a coincidence...

[salin]

3. important (not in the excerpt) - serious investigation into the possible

violation of election laws.

note:
At issue is the series of mailings, which the association financed with money from unidentified donors, everyone involved in the dispute agrees. But according to Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, the association illegally coordinated campaign efforts with its own political action committee as well as with Texan Republicans to elect the same slate of candidates. By sharing resources, strategies and advertising materials, the association violated Texas law by contributing corporate money to campaigns without disclosing donors' names, Earle said.

Just wanted to make sure folks skimming this get the gist - and then go read the article.