Regardless of what you think of the case, Tom DeLay is presumed innocent of conspiring to violate Texas election laws as alleged in Travis County.
| Monday Morning Politics |
| By Bob Dunn |
DeLay and everybody else in this country is guaranteed the right to due process under the law, in both the Fifth and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. And under the Second Amendment, citizens have the right to bear arms.
Unfortunately, the 1999 Texas Legislature overlooked the Constitution when it added restrictions to state government code saying that a citizen’s permit to carry a concealed weapon can be suspended if the citizen, among other things, is indicted under a felony charge.
Thus, the state Department of Public Safety sought and obtained an order taking away Tom DeLay’s Second Amendment constitutional right to carry a gun if he wants to – even though he hasn’t been convicted of committing any crime at all, and isn’t accused of any crime involving violence or misuse of a weapon.
If this is America then, as Tammy Cochran says, that ain’t right.
The above portion of Texas Government Code is unconstitutional and needs to be changed. And they need to give Tom his gun back.
Many happy returns
Local political candidates are required by law to file campaign finance reports every now and then, the most recent being for 30 days prior to the March 7 primary election, and again eight days prior to the primary.
I use the word “required” loosely, because apparently the legal requirements for Fort Bend County Precinct 2 are different than anywhere else.
While he still hasn’t turned in his 30-day-prior or 8-day-prior reports, it was exciting to see that incumbent Grady Prestage finally did turn in his Jan. 15 finance report, which wasn’t there back in January when I checked on the other candidates.
A peek at the report reveals not so much out of the ordinary. From July 1 through the end of December last year, Prestage received just over $15,250, much of it from lawyers and engineering firms.
Expenditures included $4,400 to Charlie’s Restaurant & Catering in Stafford for a couple of December events, and $3,700-plus to the city of Stafford for an event in November.
And then the usual $1,015 in hotel, car and restaurant expenses for a July outing in Honolulu.
Prestage’s Republican challenger Larry Blackmon, meanwhile, has managed to turn in nothing. Not a single report.
Not to be cranky, but it isn’t as if these reports are optional. They’re required by law so the citizenry can find out how their elected (and would-be elected) officials are spending campaign contributions and to whom they are beholden.
Best of the rest
If other local elected officials took their campaign finance reporting duties as seriously as the guys in Precinct 2, then none of us would have a clue who’s financing our candidates. We’d be left with our mere suspicions.
Perhaps it’s time for District Attorney John Healey to get involved in enforcing local election laws. After all, if he has to show the world (or at least the county) where his political money is coming from and where it’s going, shouldn’t everybody else?
In Healey’s case, he raised almost $24.000 between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26, entering the last leg of the primary race with more than $67,000 to spend, but also carrying more than $92,000 in outstanding loans.
His biggest recent contributions came Jan. 9, when “Bob Perry” of Houston gave him $2,500, and “Bob & Doylene Perry” of Houston also gave him $2,500.
The Perry family was generous to Healey between July and December of last year as well. Will and Laura Perry contributed more than $2,200 to cover costs of a fund raising event, and “Bob Perry” and “Bob & Doylene Perry” made a pair of $1,500 contributions in July as well.
The largest local political contribution of 2006, so far, was an in-kind contribution of about $26,000 by Tate Moerer & King, L.L.P. to District Clerk Glory Hopkins. The Richmond law firm donated its time in the well-publicized attempt by Hopkins to get her name added to the primary ballot.
Don’t hold your breath
Look, I haven’t asked Bob Burton about it, so this is (almost) pure speculation. But while I’m sure Carolyn McDaniel and Roy Cordes Jr. would like his blessing, it’s pretty doubtful Burton’s going to endorse either of the remaining runoff candidates for Fort Bend County attorney.
DeLay and everybody else in this country is guaranteed the right to due process under the law, in both the Fifth and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. And under the Second Amendment, citizens have the right to bear arms.
Weekend Politics
By Bob Dunn
