Did Texas Rep. Wayne Christian improperly pocket mileage payments from the State?
Texas State Rep. Wayne Christian has allegedly been representing the best interests of his constituents in the Center, Texas area for the last ten years. He is now running for a sixth term for the 9th Assembly District against Kenneth D. Franks in the November 2010 election.
As you’ll see from the text box below, Rep. Christian has billed and collected over $24,000 from the State for mileage reimbursements from September 6, 2007 through May 6, 2010.
However, during this period of time his campaign paid nearly $17,000 for fuel and $14,000 for maintenance costs on his vehicle, which appears to be a Lexus.
As we all know, mileage reimbursements are meant to cover all expenses of operating a vehicle, which would include the cost of the vehicle, fuel and maintenance. Therefore, it certainly appears that Rep. Wayne Christian was not lawfully entitled to pocket the mileage payments he received from the State of Texas.
Just below the text box, you’ll see a breakdown of fuel purchases made by Christian while he was in Austin and/or traveling to or from Austin. You’ll also see a breakdown of maintenance costs.
$11,681 paid to Christian by the State in 2009
At $0.55 per mile and 21 mpg, Christian would have driven about 21,000 miles in 2009 on provable state business. Of course this is highly unlikely and rather difficult to believe.
Tax Liability for Commuting
It is black letter law that the IRS considers any and all expenses paid by a third party for commuting to be taxable income. Therefore, because Christian’s campaign paid for fuel and maintenance costs for his operation of a Lexus, any and all commuting miles and/or personal use of said vehicle is taxable income.
I suspect that Mr. Christian likely did not report said use to the IRS as income. However, if he did and/or claims he did, then I’m sure he would be more than happy to release copies of his tax returns proving he so acted.
Reporting Rep. Christian’s conduct to the proper authorities
A complaint will be filed shortly with Travis County DA, the Texas State Controller and the Texas Ethics Commission regarding Mr. Christian’s conduct.
Christian, Wayne – 9th Rep. – Center
Year
|
State
Mileage
|
Fuel
|
Auto
Maint.
|
Total
Costs
|
2010
|
$ 3,423
|
$2,489
|
$ 594
|
$6,506
|
2009
|
$11,681
|
$4,776
|
$2,775
|
$19,232
|
2008
|
$ 6,427
|
$8,052
|
$5,676
|
$20,155
|
2007
|
$ 2,628
|
$1,469
|
$5,092
|
$9,189
|
|
$24,159
|
$16,786
|
$14,137
|
$55,082
|
2010 – Fuel Purchases in Austin
7-eleven,
|
$ 50.00
|
3/26/2010
|
Re-districting Conf-austin
|
Austin
|
Brookshire Brothers,
|
$ 61.06
|
3/11/2010
|
Return From Austin
|
Center
|
Cefco #38,
|
$ 75.00
|
2/21/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Rockdale
|
Chevron #00107140,
|
$ 33.07
|
2/20/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Chevron #00175485,
|
$ 41.99
|
4/20/2010
|
B&i Committee-austin
|
Austin
|
Costco Wholesale #681,
|
$ 53.76
|
5/16/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Exxon,
|
$ 47.67
|
3/09/2010
|
Travel To Houston Airport To Austin
|
Houston
|
Exxon Mobil,
|
$ 36.30
|
1/06/2010
|
Travel To Austin To Capital Office
|
Nacogdoches
|
Exxonmobil,
|
$ 38.95
|
1/15/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Crockett
|
Exxonmobil,
|
$ 35.98
|
3/20/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Food Fast #10,
|
$ 36.11
|
6/17/2010
|
Travel To Austin To Airport To Pa
|
Center
|
Food Fast #10,
|
$ 45.05
|
2/11/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Center
|
Murphy Usa 7108,
|
$ 34.84
|
1/04/2010
|
Travel To Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Center
|
Murphy Usa 7108,
|
$ 59.31
|
5/30/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Center
|
Murphy's #7197,
|
$ 51.99
|
2/25/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Rockdale
|
Phillips 66,
|
$ 40.99
|
4/11/2010
|
Return From Austin To Center
|
Austin
|
Phillips 66,
|
$ 55.52
|
4/25/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Phillips 66,
|
$ 45.42
|
4/14/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Sam's Club #6453,
|
$ 63.18
|
4/09/2010
|
Sboe Conference-austin
|
Austin
|
Shell,
|
$ 56.30
|
4/19/2010
|
B&i Committee Meeting-austin
|
Austin
|
Shell,
|
$ 33.22
|
4/20/2010
|
B&i Committee Meeting-austin
|
Austin
|
Shell,
|
$ 51.74
|
5/13/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil,
|
$ 33.80
|
6/28/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Centerville
|
Shell Oil,
|
$ 50.00
|
5/19/2010
|
Austin-sboe Meeting
|
Center
|
Valero #1396,
|
$ 59.76
|
3/20/2010
|
Austin-capital Office Visit
|
Austin
|
Valero #2003,
|
$ 56.32
|
5/21/2010
|
Travel To Ft Woth-gotv Seminar
|
Dallas
|
2010 – Vehicle Maintenance in Austin
Meineke #23,
|
$ 197.52
|
3/20/2010
|
Campaign Vehicle Maintenance
|
Austin
|
2009 – Fuel Purchases in Austin
7-eleven,
|
$ 39.58
|
1/13/2009
|
Travel/gas
|
Austin
|
7-eleven,
|
$ 31.38
|
5/08/2009
|
Travel/gas
|
Austin
|
Braker Mart,
|
$ 37.75
|
1/12/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Chevron #00203164,
|
$ 71.99
|
6/18/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Chevron #00203164,
|
$ 39.49
|
1/26/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Chevron 0107140,
|
$ 20.48
|
4/07/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Costco,
|
$ 140.58
|
9/12/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Costco,
|
$ 68.42
|
6/30/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Exxonmobil,
|
$ 69.20
|
10/12/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Lake Austin Chevron,
|
$ 46.11
|
5/17/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Lamar Shell,
|
$ 35.23
|
2/25/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Marshalls Str 7,
|
$ 57.04
|
5/19/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Marshalls Str 7,
|
$ 62.99
|
9/15/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Marshalls Str 7,
|
$ 41.28
|
4/18/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Mo Pac Express,
|
$ 38.89
|
2/10/2009
|
Travel/gas
|
Austin
|
Mo Pac Express,
|
$ 36.98
|
4/09/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Mopac Shell,
|
$ 47.79
|
2/17/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Mopac Shell,
|
$ 38.49
|
3/06/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Murphy's #7211,
|
$ 34.07
|
3/14/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Phillips 66,
|
$ 61.26
|
7/24/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Phillips 66,
|
$ 57.45
|
6/01/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Phillips 66,
|
$ 28.67
|
6/24/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Rollingwood Shell,
|
$ 38.50
|
7/03/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 47.32
|
5/04/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 45.18
|
2/02/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 41.89
|
3/03/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 62.42
|
6/22/2009
|
Travel Exp/fuel
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 36.62
|
1/26/2009
|
Travel Exp/gas
|
Austin
|
Tetco #58,
|
$ 36.40
|
5/03/2009
|
Travel/fuel
|
Austin
|
2009 – Vehicle Maintenance in Austin
Covert Auto Repair,
|
$ 811.57
|
12/30/2009
|
Vehicle Repair
|
Austin
|
Covert Automotive Group,
|
$ 125.00
|
6/01/2009
|
Travel Exp/veh Maint
|
Austin
|
Emergency Mobile Service,
|
$ 617.00
|
10/15/2009
|
Travel Exp/veh Repair
|
Austin
|
First Class Transmission,
|
$ 427.98
|
2/11/2009
|
Travel/veh Maint
|
Austin
|
Jiffy Lube #3036,
|
$ 101.23
|
2/02/2009
|
Travel/veh Maint
|
Austin
|
Lexus Of Austin,
|
$ 79.56
|
4/03/2009
|
Travel/veh Maint
|
Austin
|
Lexus Of Austin,
|
$ 88.70
|
4/03/2009
|
Travel/veh Maint
|
Austin
|
Mister Car Wash,
|
$ 69.19
|
1/16/2009
|
Travel/veh Maint
|
Austin
|
2008 – Fuel Purchases in Austin
7-eleven,
|
$ 33.30
|
12/06/2008
|
Travel
|
Austin
|
Chevron #00203164,
|
$ 79.97
|
4/28/2008
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Chevron #00203164,
|
$ 73.42
|
5/27/2008
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Louie's #106,
|
$ 23.40
|
1/23/2008
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Riverside Chevron,
|
$ 71.55
|
3/14/2008
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Sam's Club,
|
$ 72.90
|
7/18/2008
|
Travel
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 38.99
|
11/21/2008
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Shell Oil 57543061402,
|
$ 75.00
|
3/20/2008
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Sunrise Mini Mart,
|
$ 27.30
|
12/17/2008
|
Travel
|
Austin
|
Sunrise Mini Mart,
|
$ 21.23
|
12/15/2008
|
Travel
|
Austin
|
Texaco,
|
$ 40.75
|
11/12/2008
|
Travel
|
Austin
|
2008 – Vehicle Maintenance in Austin
Arbor Car Wash Ii,
|
$ 22.95
|
10/07/2008
|
Travel
|
Austin
|
Sykora Family Ford,
|
$ 507.69
|
12/23/2008
|
Travel
|
West
|
Firestone Complete Auto,
|
$ 1,354.53
|
6/10/2008
|
Travel
|
Tyler
|
Firestone Complete Auto,
|
$ 1,354.53
|
6/10/2008
|
Travel
|
Tyler
|
Northside Lexus,
|
$ 151.53
|
2/20/2008
|
Travel
|
Houston
|
Paintscratch.com,
|
$ 42.44
|
6/26/2008
|
Travel
|
Incline Village
|
Quick Change Oil & Lube Inc,
|
$ 71.00
|
3/24/2008
|
Travel
|
Center
|
Rockin C Trailer,
|
$ 352.01
|
12/15/2008
|
Travel
|
Nacogdoches
|
Tyler Automax,
|
$ 2,794.27
|
6/07/2008
|
Travel
|
Tyler
|
Valvoline Express Care,
|
$ 64.57
|
4/15/2008
|
Travel
|
Nacogdoches
|
Valvoline Express Care,
|
$ 66.64
|
11/05/2008
|
Travel
|
Nacogdoches
|
Wal Mart - Center,
|
$ 146.45
|
3/10/2008
|
Travel
|
Center
|
Wal Mart - Center,
|
$ 377.63
|
10/22/2008
|
Travel
|
Center
|
Northside,
|
$ 1,750.07
|
8/27/2008
|
Travel
|
Houston
|
2007 – Fuel Purchases in Austin
Exxon,
|
$ 69.57
|
1/08/2007
|
Veh Fuel/austin
|
Austin
|
Exxon,
|
$ 49.46
|
4/24/2007
|
Veh Fuel/austin
|
Austin
|
Exxon,
|
$ 39.56
|
2/11/2007
|
Veh Fuel/austin
|
Austin
|
Exxon,
|
$ 36.94
|
1/25/2007
|
Veh Fuel
|
Austin
|
Exxon,
|
$ 43.31
|
6/29/2007
|
Veh Fuel/austin
|
Austin
|
Sam's Club,
|
$ 22.42
|
2/05/2007
|
Vehicle Fuel
|
Austin
|
Sam's Club,
|
$ 88.70
|
5/29/2007
|
Vehicle Fuel
|
Austin
|
Sam's Club,
|
$ 46.03
|
4/30/2007
|
Vehicle Fuel
|
Austin
|
Sam's Club,
|
$ 29.74
|
3/16/2007
|
Vehicle Fuel
|
Austin
|
Shell
|
$ 31.76
|
8/02/2007
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Valero #2095,
|
$ 42.10
|
10/02/2007
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Murphy Usa 6613 Hend,
|
$ 39.48
|
3/23/2007
|
Fuel
|
Austin
|
Murphy Usa 6613 Hend,
|
$ 50.00
|
5/17/2007
|
Fuel
|
Austin
|
Murphy Usa 6613 Hend,
|
$ 27.57
|
4/02/2007
|
Fuel
|
Austin
|
Murphy Usa 6613 Hend,
|
$ 44.61
|
3/19/2007
|
Fuel
|
Austin
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 17.45
|
6/24/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 50.00
|
6/11/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 9.90
|
6/15/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 30.63
|
1/07/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 41.99
|
1/18/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 30.63
|
1/15/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Food Fast #4207,
|
$ 39.36
|
3/05/2007
|
Fuel/austin
|
Center
|
Texaco,
|
$ 28.34
|
1/15/2007
|
Fuel Austin
|
Giddings
|
2007 – Vehicle Maintenance in Austin
Family Dollar,
|
$ 21.05
|
1/08/2007
|
Veh Maint
|
Austin
|
First Class Transmission,
|
$ 1,253.00
|
5/08/2007
|
Campaign Vehicle Repair
|
Austin
|
First Class Transmission,
|
$ 458.00
|
5/02/2007
|
Campaign Vehicle Repair
|
Austin
|
Jiffy Lube #3036,
|
$ 51.38
|
3/23/2007
|
Vehicle Maint/austin
|
Austin
|
Jiffy Lube #3036,
|
$ 100.90
|
4/27/2007
|
Vehicle Maint/austin
|
Austin
|
Lexus Of Austin Aust,
|
$ 469.66
|
1/26/2007
|
Campaign Vehicle Maintance
|
Austin
|
Lexus Of Austin Aust,
|
$ 1,011.71
|
4/02/2007
|
Campaign Vehicle Maintance
|
Austin
|
Lexus Of Austin Aust,
|
$ 589.85
|
1/24/2007
|
Campaign Vehicle Maintance
|
Austin
|
Brian's Dent Busters,
|
$ 200.00
|
10/17/2007
|
Travel Exp
|
Austin
|
Discount Tire,
|
$ 894.75
|
4/02/2007
|
Campaign Veh Tires
|
Austin
|
Double Rainbow Car Wash,
|
$ 8.00
|
7/09/2007
|
Travel Exp
|
Tyler
|
Pep Boys,
|
$ 23.79
|
7/09/2007
|
Travel Exp
|
Tyler
|
R R Tire Corp.,
|
$ 9.00
|
10/11/2007
|
Travel Exp
|
Center
|
|