Anyone catch on CNN that Enron money used to redistrict Texas??

[skooooo]

They mentioned this accusation briefly this morning. Did anyone else catch it? It makes perfect since. Enron rips off the taxpayers in California, rips off their shareholders, goes bankrupt, but uses the money for the Republican's advantage.

I smell law suit...

[Blue Wally]

1. Except

Enron went into the toilet before the redistricting push was made.

[skooooo]

4. But the money was being funnelled...

...before probably. The timing doesn't matter. You have to buy people off and get the money from somewhere.

[Blue Wally]

8. Why money????

It was a legislative power play on the part of a majority party. What money was needed??

[skooooo]

9. Read the article...

...I know as much as you do.

[papau]

12. DeLay's (illegal?)Corporate Fundraising (to redistrict) Investigated

DeLay's (illegal?)Corporate Fundraising (to redistrict) Investigated


Corporate fundraising practices of the House Majority Leader seems to include per email in May 2001 from Enron's top lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson, a demand for a $100,000 contribution to his political action committee, in addition to the $250,000 the company had already pledged to the Republican Party that year - with the new donation to come from 'a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron's executives,' with the understanding that it would be partly spent on 'the redistricting effort in Texas."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A43219-2004Jul...

DeLay's Corporate Fundraising Investigated
Money Was Directed to Texas GOP to Help State Redistricting Effort

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 12, 2004; Page A01


In May 2001, Enron's top lobbyists in Washington advised the company chairman that then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was pressing for a $100,000 contribution to his political action committee, in addition to the $250,000 the company had already pledged to the Republican Party that year.

DeLay requested that the new donation come from "a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron's executives," with the understanding that it would be partly spent on "the redistricting effort in Texas," said the e-mail to Kenneth L. Lay from lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson.

The e-mail, which surfaced in a subsequent federal probe of Houston-based Enron, is one of at least a dozen documents obtained by The Washington Post that show DeLay and his associates directed money from corporations and Washington lobbyists to Republican campaign coffers in Texas in 2001 and 2002 as part of a plan to redraw the state's congressional districts.

DeLay's fundraising efforts helped produce a stunning political success. Republicans took control of the Texas House for the first time in 130 years, Texas congressional districts were redrawn to send more Republican lawmakers to Washington, and DeLay -- now the House majority leader -- is more likely to retain his powerful post after the November election, according to political experts.

But DeLay and his colleagues also face serious legal challenges: Texas law bars corporate financing of state legislature campaigns, and a Texas criminal prosecutor is in the 20th month of digging through records of the fundraising, looking at possible violations of at least three statutes. A parallel lawsuit, also in the midst of discovery, is seeking $1.5 million in damages from DeLay's aides and one of his political action committees -- Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) -- on behalf of four defeated Democratic lawmakers.

[Maestro]

24. The democrats in Texas knew this

and vociferously opposed and this also was one of the reasons democrats fled to Oklahoma and New Mexico to stop a quorum in the Texas Senate.

[amber dog democrat]

2. This is going to get Ronnie Earl's attention

The Travis County DA's office is building a meticulous case against the bug man already. I am seeing this as another nail in the coffin.

[Warpy]

13. The problem with being that ruthless is the enemies you make

and the Roach has made enemies on both sides of the aisle with his heavy handed tactics, using the RNC purse strings to threaten any member of his own party who doesn't play along on monstrosities like the Medicare poison pill bill. He's also made powerful enemies in the corporate world from his relentless and frequent shakedowns.

Yeah, I'd say the Roach is finally going to get buried under an avalanche of this stuff as people finally realize he's not invulnerable, and they can get rid of him.

I just hope his cellmate weighs 300 pounds and lives on cigars and raw garlic and thinks he's the cutest thing in prison orange.

[wicket]

3. This story is on the front page of today's Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43219-2004Jul11.html

[Rose Siding]

5. It's all over the WP front page today

DeLay's toast.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43219-2004Jul11.html

In May 2001, Enron's top lobbyists in Washington advised the company chairman that then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was pressing for a $100,000 contribution to his political action committee, in addition to the $250,000 the company had already pledged to the Republican Party that year.

DeLay requested that the new donation come from "a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron's executives," with the understanding that it would be partly spent on "the redistricting effort in Texas," said the e-mail to Kenneth L. Lay from lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson.

The e-mail, which surfaced in a subsequent federal probe of Houston-based Enron, is one of at least a dozen documents obtained by The Washington Post that show DeLay and his associates directed money from corporations and Washington lobbyists to Republican campaign coffers in Texas in 2001 and 2002 as part of a plan to redraw the state's congressional districts.

more.........

[skooooo]

11. Toast? unlikely...

...read what the article says:

" -- now the House majority leader -- is more likely to retain his powerful post after the November election, according to political experts."

[Rose Siding]

15. Ronnie Earle's going to get him on one charge or another...

snip>
But DeLay and his colleagues also face serious legal challenges: Texas law bars corporate financing of state legislature campaigns, and a Texas criminal prosecutor is in the 20th month of digging through records of the fundraising, looking at possible violations of at least three statutes. A parallel lawsuit, also in the midst of discovery, is seeking $1.5 million in damages from DeLay's aides and one of his political action committees -- Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) -- on behalf of four defeated Democratic lawmakers.

DeLay has not been named as a target of the investigation. The prosecutor has said he is focused on the activities of political action committees linked to DeLay and the redistricting effort. But officials in the prosecutor's office say anyone involved in raising, collecting or spending the corporate money, who also knew of its intended use in Texas elections, is vulnerable.

Documents unearthed in the probe make clear that DeLay was central to creating and overseeing the fundraising. What the prosecutors are still assessing is who knew about the day-to-day operations of TRMPAC and how its money was used to benefit Texas House candidates.

[amber dog democrat]

19. I would not be so sure of that

If he survives the November ballot, this does not mean he can STAY in office.

[ObaMania]

6. They're talking about it on Unfiltered now.

nt

[PA Democrat]

7. Here is some additional info

In May 2001, Enron's top lobbyists in Washington advised the company chairman that then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) was pressing for a $100,000 contribution to his political action committee, in addition to the $250,000 the company had already pledged to the Republican Party that year.

DeLay requested that the new donation come from "a combination of corporate and personal money from Enron's executives," with the understanding that it would be partly spent on "the redistricting effort in Texas," said the e-mail to Kenneth L. Lay from lobbyists Rick Shapiro and Linda Robertson.

<snip>

But DeLay and his colleagues also face serious legal challenges: Texas law bars corporate financing of state legislature campaigns, and a Texas criminal prosecutor is in the 20th month of digging through records of the fundraising, looking at possible violations of at least three statutes. A parallel lawsuit, also in the midst of discovery, is seeking $1.5 million in damages from DeLay's aides and one of his political action committees -- Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) -- on behalf of four defeated Democratic lawmakers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43219-2004Jul11.html

[yellowcanine]

10. Any chance DeLay could lose his seat over this? How pissed off are

Texans about this?

[amber dog democrat]

20. Very much so.

This is only going to get more interesting. I expect a long protracted battle, but the Austin Buisiness Association, that funneled money to Republican politicial advertizing has gone all the way to the Supreme Court - and lost in a bid to prevent having to turn its records over to the Travis Co DAs office.

I expect to see a round of indictments coming out later this year.

Seldom had there been a political payback that was more justified.

You're damn right many of us are.

[XNASA]

14. Frontpage of the Chicago Tribune today as well.

What about the Chronicle?? The Houston Chronicle I mean.

[Bridget Burke]

16. Houston Chronicle's front page story: The All Star Game!

The Washington Post story about DeLay's Enron fundraising for redistricting can be found inside.

The more prominent Enron story is Lea (Mrs. Jeff) Fastow beginning her year in jail. She had hoped to serve her time at a minimum-security prison camp for women in Bryan, about 90 miles northwest of Houston.

There, the couple's two young sons could have enjoyed playground equipment during visits. She could have worn khaki shorts and T-shirts, played softball, walked on an outdoor track, or perhaps tended one of the complex's vegetable and flower gardens.

Instead, she's going to federal lockup in downtown Houston. For the next year, home for the real estate and grocery heiress married to Enron's former finance chief will be an 8-foot-by-10-foot cell. She'll live with a roommate, share a toilet and endure noise that doesn't stop at lights-out.

www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/enron/2674565

[amber dog democrat]

21. well good

maybe she will learn some humility and genuinely feel regret for the harm to which she contributed.

[AndyTiedye]

25. Governor Goodhair Will Pardon Him

[leftofthedial]

17. The House Majority Leader has been shown to have solicited

an illegal campaign contribution from a fraudulent, illegal company.

And it gets brief mention.

This is a far more serious crime and scandal than anything Clinton ever did.

If Tom DeLay skates on this one, there is no justice in America.

[amber dog democrat]

22. I don't think that will happen

I think he is an acquired target now.
Evasive action is futile.
The DAs office is building a very good case on this born-again thug.

[AlCzervik]

18. NOW with Bill Moyers did a few shows on this

if you go to his web site you can find more info, www.pbs.org/now

I lived in Texas for a few years under the Bush governers regime and i'm waiting to see if they can finally nail Delay. Out of all of them i think i really despise him the most.

[Lindsey]

23. He (Delay) is just unbelievable...

what a horrible, horrible name this man puts on not only Christianity but on humanity. I just shake my head and ask the universe, "How is this happening?"