AM Feed - August 10, 2005
Hot Topics
- On Monday House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) opened a privately-run foster home project for abused and neglected children. Sounds good, right? But as we know, in DeLay’s world, no deed (good or bad) comes without kickbacks: The project was built by Perry Homes, which is owned by Bob Perry – the main financier of the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Perry also donated some $350,000 to DeLay’s various PACs in the 2002 cycle, and kicked in another $10,000 for his legal defense fund. The first phase of the project, which includes eight homes, will cost about $8 million, and the completion of the second phase will boost costs to $25 million. [link]
- And speaking of shady deals on DeLay’s watch: A state district judge refused to drop charges against two of DeLay’s associates yesterday. John Colyandro, who worked for Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC), is charged with money laundering and 13 counts of accepting illegal political contributions. Jim Ellis, a former employee of Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), is facing a charge of money laundering. All charges stem from the 2002 elections, when it appears that nearly $200,000 in corporate donations was funneled to Texas state legislative candidates, a violation of Texas state law. [link]
- President Bush has been trying to talk the talk about spending restraint lately, but he certainly hasn’t walked the walk: Today Bush plans to sign the massive highway bill into law – $286.4 billion price tag and all. The bill, passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, contains over 6,000 special pet projects valued at over $9 billion. The White House had initially threatened to veto the bill if spending got out of hand, which raises the question: Just what would that bill look like? [link]
Morning Snark
- How else will DeLay leave an imprint on his foster home project? Here’s guessing all the TVs will receive only FOX News.
- Did Bob Perry receive the DeLay contract after he released a video unfairly smearing all other building companies in the Houston area? Or were his $350,000 in political contributions enough to do the job?
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