|
Houston/San Antonio legislators misappropriating state funds – tax avoidance
Below are the names of 26 Texas state legislators from the Houston/San Antonio areas that have received per diem payments from the State that were intended to defray the lodging costs they incurred while attending legislative sessions in Austin.
The legislature is in session in odd-numbered years for 140 days unless a special 30 days session is called. Put simply, the meet every two years. The facts set forth in the text boxes below demonstrate that these legislators personally pocketed per diem payments when in fact 100% of their lodging expenses during sessions in Austin were paid with funds contributed to their respective campaigns.
The columns in the text boxes below are defined as follows:
-
Rent + Water = total lodging/water costs + monthly payments made by campaign
-
Utilities/Misc. = electric, cable, gas, maid services, food/supplies, telephone costs
-
Per Diem = amount paid to legislator (200-2007 are estimates)
-
Amt. Owed = represents amount campaign paid for lodging expenses during sessions in Austin that the legislator pocketed when it lawfully should have been paid to campaign
Tax avoidance re: lodging costs paid by campaign
During even numbered years when the legislature was not in session, the 26 legislators named below continued to use campaign funds to pay 100% of lodging costs in Austin. Rather than drone on about this matter, I would invite you to review the facts set forth in a letter sent to IRS Commissioner Doug Schulman, which can be found at the URL listed be the article title below.
Letter to IRS Commissioner Doug Schulman re: TX legislators as possible tax scofflaws
No. 1 – Ellis, Rodney – 13th Sen. – Houston = $100,948
No. 2 – Patrick, Dan – 7th Senate – Houston = $10,441
No. 3 – Wentworth, Jeffrey – 25th Senate – San Antonio = $10,933
No. 4 – Williams, Tommy – 4th Senate – San Antonio = $38,643
No. 5 – Uresti, Carlos – 19th Senate – San Antonio = $31,713
No. 6 – Van De Putte, Leticia – 26th Senate – San Antonio = $69,702
No. 7 – Bohac, Dwayne – 138th Rep. – Houston = $41,177
No. 8 – Coleman, Garnet – 147th Rep. – Houston = $60,041
No. 9 – Dutton, Harold Jr. – 142nd Rep. – Houston = $29,192
No. 10 – Edwards, Al – 146th Rep. – Houston = $2,913
No. 11– Eiland, Craig – Rep. – Galveston = $31,807
No. 12– Elkins, Gary – 135th Rep. – Houston = $26,508
No. 13– Farrar, Jessica – 148th Rep. Houston = $35,642
No. 14– Fletcher, Allen – 130th Rep. – Houston = $9,189
No. 15– Gutierrez, Rolando – 119th Rep. – San Antonio = $14,799
No. 16– Hernandez, Ana Elizabeth – 143rd Rep. – Houston = $15,290
No. 17– Leibowitz, David – 117th Rep. – San Antonio = $8,984
No. 18– Legler, Ken – Rep. – Houston = $8,768
No. 19– Martinez-Fischer, Ferdinand – 116th Rep. – San Antonio = $11,175
No. 20– McClendon, Ruth – 120th Rep – San Antonio = $71,881
No. 21– Menendez, Jose – 124th Rep. – San Antonio = $70,803
No. 22– Miller, Douglas – 73rd Rep. – New Braunfels = $15,856
No. 23– Smith, Richard Wayne – 128th Rep. – Baytown = $35,138
No. 24 – Turner, Sylvester – 96th Rep. – Houston = $39,617
No. 25– Walle, Armando – 140th Rep. – Houston = $9,689
$800,789 = Total amount of Per Diem owed to campaigns
Text Box 1 - Ellis, Rodney – 13th Sen. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$15,018=6
|
$2,245
|
$17,263
|
None
|
$ 2,520
|
$2,520
|
|
2009
|
$ 8,585=4
|
$6,506
|
$15,091
|
140
|
$24,806
|
$15,091
|
|
2008
|
$14,206=6
|
$2,875
|
$17,081
|
None
|
$ 1,529
|
$1,529
|
|
2007
|
$ 1,979
|
$3,693
|
$ 5,672
|
140
|
$21,400
|
$5,672
|
|
2006
|
$33,600 =12
|
Unknown
|
$33,600
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2005
|
$27,000 = 9
|
$1,917
|
$28,917
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$25,600
|
|
2004
|
$20,400 =12
|
Unknown
|
$20,400
|
30/60
|
$7,860
|
$7,860
|
|
2003
|
$29,888 = 5
|
$1,666
|
$31,554
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$15,400
|
|
2002
|
$30,440=12
|
Unknown
|
$30,440
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2001
|
$11,910=7
|
$2,016
|
$14,176
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$14,176
|
|
2000
|
$21,120=12
|
$3,026
|
$24,146
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
|
$211,538
|
$29,107
|
$240,465
|
|
$129,565
|
$100,948
|
Text Box 2 - Patrick, Dan – 7th Senate – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$8,320
|
$2,121
|
$10,441
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$10,441
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 3 - Wentworth, Jeffrey – 25th Senate – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$5,099=8
|
$1,489
|
$6,588
|
140
|
$24,134
|
$6,588
|
|
2007
|
$3,038=6
|
$1,307
|
$4,345
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$4,345
|
|
|
$8,137
|
$2,796
|
$10,933
|
|
$45,274
|
$10,933
|
Text Box 4 - Williams, Tommy – 4th Senate – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$9,654=4
|
None
|
$9,654
|
|
$4,872
|
$4,872
|
|
2009
|
$12,500=10
|
$1,968
|
$14,468
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$14,468
|
|
2008
|
$15,000=12
|
$ 400
|
$15,400
|
None
|
$7,645
|
$7,645
|
|
2007
|
$ 6,210= 6
|
$ 666
|
$ 6,876
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$6,876
|
|
|
$33,710
|
$3,034
|
$36,744
|
|
$57,513
|
$33,861
|
Text Box 5 - Uresti, Carlos – 19th Senate – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Cable
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$10,876=5
|
$2,971
|
$13,847
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$13,412
|
|
2007
|
$ 8,125=5
|
$ 428
|
$ 8,553
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$ 8,553
|
|
2005
|
$ 2,934=4
|
$2,348
|
$ 5,282
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$ 5,282
|
|
2003
|
$ 2,309=3
|
$1,712
|
$ 4,021
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$ 4,021
|
|
|
$29,244
|
$7,459
|
$31,703
|
|
$99,346
|
$31,268
|
Text Box 6 - Van De Putte, Leticia – 26th Senate – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$10,000= 6
|
$911
|
$10,911
|
None
|
$1,008
|
$1,088
|
|
2009
|
$22,995=12
|
$2,575
|
$25,570
|
141
|
$23,676
|
$23,676
|
|
2008
|
$ 9,335= 4
|
$242
|
$ 9,577
|
None
|
$3,197
|
$3,197
|
|
2007
|
$14,450= 9
|
$1,205
|
$15,665
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$15,665
|
|
2006
|
$15,794=10
|
$2,922
|
$18,716
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2005
|
$16,332=12
|
$1,635
|
$17,967
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$17,967
|
|
2004
|
$15,110=10
|
$2,087
|
$17,197
|
30/60
|
$7,860
|
$7,860
|
|
2003
|
$11,500=11
|
$2,800
|
$14,300
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$14,300
|
|
|
$115,516
|
$14,377
|
$129,893
|
$111,231
|
$99,346
|
$69,702
|
Text Box 7 - Bohac, Dwayne – 138th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$849
|
None
|
$849
|
None
|
$6,510
|
$ 849
|
|
2009
|
$ 6,360=5
|
None
|
$ 6,350
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$ 6,519
|
|
2008
|
$1,805
|
None
|
$1,805
|
None
|
$10,323
|
$ 1,805
|
|
2007
|
$11,605=11
|
None
|
$11,605
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$11,605
|
|
2006
|
$ 4,185=4
|
None
|
$ 4,185
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2005
|
$ 5,752=6
|
$2,160
|
$ 7,912
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$7,912
|
|
2004
|
$ 6,672=6
|
$222
|
$ 6,894
|
30/60
|
$7,860
|
$7,860
|
|
2003
|
$ 4,919=6
|
$843
|
$ 5,762
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$5,672
|
|
|
$39,493
|
$3,225
|
$42,718
|
|
$124,039
|
$42,222
|
Text Box 8 - Coleman, Garnet – 147th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
Mos.
|
Rent
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$ 9,500=5
|
$1,810
|
$11,310
|
None
|
$6,314
|
$6,314
|
|
2009
|
$20,557=6
|
$4,019
|
$24,576
|
141
|
$24,528
|
$24,528
|
|
2008
|
$17,238=12
|
$3,100
|
$20,338
|
None
|
$ 9,063
|
$9,063
|
|
2007
|
$12,773=6
|
$7,363
|
$20,136
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$20,136
|
|
|
$60,068
|
$16,292
|
$76,360
|
|
$65,597
|
$60,041
|
Text Box 9 - Dutton, Harold Jr. – 142nd Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$12,195=9
|
$1,134
|
$13,329
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$13,329
|
|
2007
|
$ 6,882=6
|
$1,675
|
$ 8,557
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$8,557
|
|
2005
|
$ 6,810=6
|
$ 496
|
$ 7,306
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$7,306
|
|
|
$25,887
|
$3,305
|
$29,192
|
|
$70,596
|
$29,192
|
Text Box 10 - Edwards, Al – 146th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$2,913
|
None
|
$2,913
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$2,913
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 11 - Eiland, Craig – Rep. – Galveston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt. Owed
|
|
2010
|
$ 9,000=5
|
$2,170
|
$11,170
|
None
|
$4,092
|
$4,092
|
|
2009
|
$13,522=12
|
$4,187
|
$17,709
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$17,709
|
|
2007
|
$ 9,372=6
|
$634
|
$10,006
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$10,006
|
|
|
$31,894
|
$6,991
|
$38,885
|
|
$49,088
|
$31,807
|
Text Box 12 - Elkins, Gary – 135th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$3,583=6
|
None
|
$3,583
|
None
|
$1,824
|
$1,824
|
|
2009
|
$6,874=12
|
None
|
$6,874
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$6,874
|
|
2008
|
$6,597=12
|
None
|
$6,597
|
None
|
$4,367
|
$4,367
|
|
2007
|
$6,434=12
|
None
|
$6,434
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$6,534
|
|
2006
|
$6,383=12
|
None
|
$6,383
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2005
|
$7,009=12
|
None
|
$7,009
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$7,009
|
|
|
$36,880
|
|
$36,880
|
|
$76,787
|
$26,508
|
Text Box 13 - Farrar, Jessica – 148th Rep. Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$3,911=9
|
None
|
$3,911
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$3,911
|
|
2008
|
$2,995=7
|
None
|
$2,995
|
None
|
$21,902
|
$2,995
|
|
2007
|
$2,460=6
|
$2,369
|
$4,829
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$4,829
|
|
2006
|
$4,130=10
|
$ 315
|
$4,445
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2005
|
$4,420=11
|
$1,682
|
$6,102
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$6,102
|
|
2004
|
$3,555=9
|
$1,719
|
$5,274
|
30/60
|
$7,860
|
$5,724
|
|
2003
|
$4,480=8
|
$ 779
|
$5,259
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$5,259
|
|
2002
|
$7,220=10
|
$ 602
|
$7,822
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2001
|
$7,500=12
|
$1,216
|
$8,616
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$8,616
|
|
2000
|
$5,750=9
|
None
|
$5,759
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
|
$46,421
|
$8,682
|
$55,103
|
|
$142,538
|
$35,642
|
Text Box 14 - Fletcher, Allen – 130th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$8,321=7
|
$868
|
$9,189
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$9,189
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 15 - Gutierrez, Rolando – 119th Rep. – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$11,400=6
|
$3,379
|
$14,779
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$14,779
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 16 - Hernandez, Ana Elizabeth – 143rd Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$7,200=6
|
$2,090
|
$9,290
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$9,290
|
|
2007
|
$6,000=6
|
None
|
$6,000
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$6,000
|
|
|
$13,200
|
$2,090
|
$15,290
|
|
$44,996
|
$15,290
|
Text Box 17 - Leibowitz, David – 117th Rep. – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$7,242=6
|
$1,742
|
$8,984
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$8,984
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 18 - Legler, Ken – Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$7,965=6
|
$713
|
$8,678
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$8,678
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 19 - Martinez-Fischer, Ferdinand – 116th Rep. – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Cable
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$10,500=5
|
$675
|
$11,175
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$11,175
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 20 - McClendon, Ruth – 120th Rep – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$12,570 = 6
|
$ 121
|
$12,691
|
170
|
$23,856
|
$12,691
|
|
2008
|
$25,140 = 12
|
None
|
$25,140
|
None
|
$19,232
|
$19,232
|
|
2007
|
$22,845 = 11
|
None
|
$22,845
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$21,140
|
|
2006
|
$11,235 = 7
|
$ 175
|
$11,410
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
2005
|
$12,000 = 10
|
$1,183
|
$13,183
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$ 13,183
|
|
2004
|
$13,200 = 11
|
$1,200
|
$14,400
|
30/60
|
$7,860
|
$7,860
|
|
|
$96,990
|
$2,679
|
$99,669
|
|
$103,526
|
$74,106
|
Text Box 21 - Menendez, Jose – 124th Rep. – San Antonio
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$17,541=10
|
$8,447
|
$25,988
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$23,856
|
|
2007
|
$ 9,166=6
|
$6,713
|
$15,879
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$15,879
|
|
2005
|
$ 7,671=7
|
$2,462
|
$10,133
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$10,133
|
|
2003
|
$ 9,634=8
|
$4,753
|
$14,387
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$14,387
|
|
|
$44,012
|
$22,375
|
$66,387
|
|
$99,346
|
$64,255
|
Text Box 22 - Miller, Douglas – 73rd Rep. – New Braunfels
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$11,865=7
|
$3,991
|
$15,856
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$15,856
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box 23 - Smith, Richard Wayne – 128th Rep. – Baytown
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2010
|
$4,994=7
|
$ 836
|
$5,830
|
None
|
$4,488
|
$4,488
|
|
2009
|
$8,086=11
|
$1,523
|
$9,609
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$9,609
|
|
2008
|
$8,109=12
|
$1,543
|
$9,652
|
None
|
$6,643
|
$6,643
|
|
2007
|
$7,784=12
|
$1,428
|
$9,212
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$9,212
|
|
2006
|
$5,186=10
|
None
|
$5,186
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
|
$34,159
|
$5,330
|
$39,489
|
|
$44,996
|
$29,952
|
Text Box 24 - Turner, Sylvester – 96th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$ 9,043=5
|
$1,522
|
$10,565
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$10,565
|
|
2007
|
$10,200=5
|
$1,667
|
$11,867
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$11,867
|
|
2005
|
$ 2,521=2
|
None
|
$ 2,521
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$ 2,521
|
|
2003
|
$12,284=7
|
None
|
$12,284
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$12,284
|
|
2001
|
$ 2,380=4
|
$ 200
|
$ 2,580
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$ 2,380
|
|
|
$36,428
|
$3,389
|
$39,817
|
|
$116,706
|
$39,617
|
Text Box 25 - Walle, Armando – 140th Rep. – Houston
|
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
|
2009
|
$8,941=6
|
$748
|
$9,689
|
141
|
$23,856
|
$9,689
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
