Announcing the ‘Living Large Index’ for the Texas Legislature
Readers who have followed The Texas Monitor’s series “Lifestyles of State Lawmakers” know that political contributions fuel more than just yard signs and mailers…
Senate big spender #1: Jane Nelson
Sen. Jane Nelson pays top dollar for rent for her time in Austin.
Since 2015, the Flower Mound Republican has been paying $5,000 a month…
House big spender #1: Joe Straus
Rep. Joe Straus (R-San Antonio), the Texas Speaker of the House, is generous with gifts, especially for members of his staff.
The Texas Monitor’s examination…
Senate big spender #2: Judith Zaffirini
Many Texas lawmakers use campaign expenses to pay for the use of one vehicle, the rationale being that they don’t want to get much…
House big spender #2: Dan Flynn
Much like the old Johnny Cash song, Rep. Dan Flynn has been everywhere — man.
The Republican from Canton has made more than 30 out-of-state…
Senate big spender #3: Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Sometimes campaign donations are the gift that keeps on giving.
Donors provide money to candidates, and, in return, those candidates kick some of that money…
House big spender #3: Garnet Coleman
If his travels are any indication, Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) and former President Obama are practically joined at the hip.
According to expenditures examined by…
Senate big spender #4: John Whitmire
Texas Senator John Whitmire is such a supporter of Texas’ sports teams with his campaign funds they ought to give him an honorary gold-colored,…
House big spender #4: Eddie Lucio III
The Geek Squad is undoubtedly happy when they see Rep. Eddie Lucio III coming.
That’s because the Democrat from Brownsville has spent more than $28,000…
Senate big spender #5: Robert Nichols
In a district where the per-capita income is just $22,224, few people could afford rent of $1,629 per month. But that’s what state Sen….
House big spender #5: Rene Oliveira
From his campaign coffers to his valued associates, Rep. Rene Oliveira likes to keep the alcohol flowing.
An examination of campaign fund expenditure by The…
Campaign funds: The gift that keeps on giving
If you’re thinking of opening a new business in Austin, forget flowers.
The market is pretty sewn up, bound by the habits of state legislators,…
Lawmakers ride in luxury on donor funds
State Sen. Craig Estes doesn’t mess around when it comes to being transported around the state.
The Republican from Wichita Falls has spent $317,000 on…
High rent, lavish meals remain the norm for many state lawmakers
State Sen. Joan Huffman was freshly re-elected at the end of 2014 when she came to Austin for a series of meetings. It was…
The campaign cash express: Mapping the travel of your legislator
It’s a bird! It’s a plane!
But it’s not Superman.
More likely it is your Texas state legislator jetting to an exotic locale.
Last week The Texas…
Tapping campaign cash pays for lawmakers’ exotic trips, resort stays
For many couples, a sightseeing trip to Costa Rica would be a costly affair, with penny-pinching and coupon-cutting to save for the trip.
But former…
Campaign coffers fund lavish lifestyles
Editor’s note: This is the first in an occasional series of Texas Monitor investigations into the way campaign funds are used to pad the…