TPJ Files Complaint Against Texans for Republican Majority

Complaint Outlines Huge Stealth Expenditures
and the Apparent Misuse of Corporate Funds

Austin, TX: Texans for Public Justice (TPJ) today filed a complaint with Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, asking his office to investigate apparent Texas Election Code violations by Texans for a Republican Majority (TRM). This political committee associated with Speaker Tom Craddick helped elect Republican House members in 2002. TPJ contends that TRM's IRS filings reveal hundreds of thousands of dollars in ostensibly political expenditures that were not reported in the PAC’s disclosure reports filed in Texas. IRS reports also reveal that TRM raised at least $602,000 in corporate contributions. TPJ contends that TRM used these corporate contributions—contrary to Texas law—to pay for some or all of its non-reported political expenditures.

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“This complaint outlines the apparent misuse of corporate funds to fill the legislature with big-business, anti-consumer zealots,” said Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice. “It looks like the Texas Association of Business and TRM worked hand-in-hand to electioneer with illicit corporate funds. We urge the prosecutor to determine if this new Republican majority is in fact an illegal majority.”

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