Jump to full article: Houston (TX) Chronicle, 2008-05-12
Author: CLAY ROBISON
Intro: You could call it the deal that keeps on giving.
The five plaintiffs' lawyer firms that helped then-Attorney General Dan Morales score a $17.3 billion settlement for state government against the tobacco industry 10 years ago continue to benefit from their estimated $3.3 billion in legal fees. . . .
Republicans, including then-Gov. George W. Bush, fought the fees, fearing that much of the money would end up in Democratic campaigns.
And it has . . .
But with Democrats fighting to regain a majority of the Texas House during this election or in 2010 -- Republicans now hold a 79-71 edge -- the tobacco money could become important in some legislative races this fall.
Much of it will be routed through Texans for Insurance Reform, a trial lawyer committee that has drawn heavy financial support from three members of the anti-tobacco team -- John Eddie Williams of Houston, Walter Umphrey of Beaumont and Harold Nix of Daingerfield.
The PAC backed more losers than winners in several primary races (Democratic and Republican) this spring.
In Houston, it gave more than $17,000 to Armando Walle, who unseated Rep. Kevin Bailey, a Democrat with ties to Republican Speaker Tom Craddick. But it lost more than $130,000 backing an unsuccessful primary challenger to another Craddick Democrat, Rep. Kino Flores of Palmview.
Jump to full article » |