More on Bribing Ms Daisy (Linda Harper-Brown)

WFAA  and the Dallas Morning News have reported Texas State Representative Linda Harper-Brown did not disclosed the donation of a Mercedes Benz and a Chevy Tahoe by someone who benefited from her votes on the Transportation Committee. Craig McDonald director of Texans for Public Justice summed this situation up appropriately: this "stinks to high heaven.” 

Ms. Daisy could have prevented this.


Spending Campaign Cash
Brown should have followed the leadership of other State Representatives and State Senators by using her campaign donations to lease BMWs, Lexus, Toyotas or her Mecedes. Leasing a Mercedes Benz may seem excessive, as does leasing two vehicles, but given the lack of enforcement by the Ethics Commission, no one really seems to matter.


Unlimited contributions
Since Texas has no limit on campaign donations, Brown should have asked for a donation from those who benefit from her decisions on the Transportation Committee. This is not unusual. Insurance companies donate to those on the Insurance Committee. Homebuilders donate to the committees handling homeowner issues as well as the Supreme Court. So Brown could ask for these donations then lease a brand spanking new Mercedes.

Or she could just purchase the car with cash, campaign cash.  State Senator Seliger purchased a Chrysler for $27,000 and State Representative Isett bought a truck for $12,000. State Representative Carl Isett has since retired and there is no indication that he returned the truck to his campaign.
 
End of the Gravy Train
Only after formal complaints were filed with the Texas Ethics Commission have the illegal use of contributions to buy condos been stopped. The use of campaign cash to purchase personal vehicles, or leasing vehicles for so called "100% Business Use" is the last gravy train remaining.