Lobbyist sees green on greens

[Judi Lynn]

Aug. 18, 2005, 10:31PM

Lobbyist sees green on greens
Next week's golf outing is set up to pump money into the legal fund for 2 DeLay associates
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - A Washington lobbyist is organizing a golf fundraiser for the secretive fund that is paying for the legal defense for two of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's political associates who have been indicted on charges of illegally using corporate money to influence Texas elections in 2002.

Jim Ellis, who runs DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority, and John Colyandro, the executive director of Texans for a Republican Majority, were indicted last year by a Travis County grand jury on charges of violating state election law and money laundering.

TRMPAC's treasurer, Bill Ceverha, lost a civil lawsuit earlier this year in which losing Democrats accused the political action committee of illegally raising corporate money and not reporting it on the committee's disclosure filings with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Since last year's indictments, Ellis and Colyandro have had their legal bills paid for by a trust that does not disclose the names of donors.

The capitol newspaper The Hill reported this week that Washington lobbyist Mark Valente III has organized an Aug. 24 event to raise money for the defense fund at the Springfield Golf and Country Club in Virginia. Valente told the newspaper he set the event up because he is friends with Ellis.
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3316980
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[acmejack]

1. These two people are going down

They are toast. Raise lots of money, you republiCons, they're going to need it.

This is a very interesting case with real national implications. Of course, we can't undo the illegal redistricting orchestrated by Delay. That awarded five Congressional seats to the cons while ousting five good Dems.

Hangings too good for 'em!

[slay]

2. How can anyone doubt that Republicans are criminals

when their bills are being paid "by a trust that does not disclose the names of donors"? If you believe in what you're doing you shouldn't be afraid to attach your name to it. And if not, then it comes to question why not, what are you hiding, and what are you afraid of.