Houston/San Antonio legislators misappropriating state funds – tax avoidance

http://tinyurl.com/2dh5frb

 

The legislature is in session in odd-numbered years for 140 days unless a special 30 day session is called. Put simply, they meet every two years. The facts set forth in the text boxes below demonstrate that these legislators personally pocketed per diem payments of at least $287,685 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:

 

Ø      Rent + Water = total lodging/water costs + monthly payments made by campaign

Ø      Utilities/Misc. = electric, cable, gas, maid services, food/supplies, telephone costs

Ø      Per Diem = amount paid to legislator (200-2007 are estimates)

Ø      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

 

Bottom line here is that the “Amt. Owed” is the amount directly paid to the legislator by the State Controller’s Office that did not represent any out-of-pockets costs for lodging by said officeholder.

 

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 under the article below.

 

Letter to IRS Commissioner Doug Schulman re: TX legislators as possible tax scofflaws

http://tinyurl.com/25y75y5

 

Also, the Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg has been notified about this matter. A letter to Ms. Lehmberg can be found at the URL below.

 

Letter to Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg re: legislator’s misappropriating state funds

http://tinyurl.com/27q5zjd

No. 26 – Callegari, William 132^nd Rep. – Katy = $7,987

No. 27 – Gallegos, Mario – 6^th Senate – Galena Park = $27,291

No. 28 – Harless, Patricia – 126^th Rep. – Spring = $4,064

No. 29 – Jackson, Mike – 11^th Senate – LaPorte = $77,871

No. 30 – Thompson, Senfronia, 141^st Rep. – Houston = $44,855

No. 31 - Villarreal, Mike - 123rd Rep. - San Antonio = $10,262

No. 32 – Vo, Hubert – 149^th Rep. – Houston = $11,908

No. 33 – Weber, Randy – 29^th Rep. – Houston = $5,121

No. 34 – Woolley, Beverly – 136^th Rep. – Houston = $97,116

$287,685 = Total amount of Per Diem owed to campaigns

Text Box 26 -Callegari, William 132^nd Rep. – Katy

Text Box 29 - Jackson, Mike – 11^th Senate – LaPorte

 

Year	Rent + Water	Utilities Misc.	Totals	Session	Per Diem	Amt. Owed
2010	$11,700= 6	$1,775	$13,475	None	$ 2,856	$ 2,856
2009	$23,400=12	$6,506	$29,906	141	$31,526	$29,906
2007	$25,366=13	$3,466	$28,832	140	$23,086	$23,086
2005	$ 2,500=4	$3,060	$5,560	200	$25,600	$ 5,560
2004	$ 3,750=3	$3,322	$7,072	30/60	$7,860	$7,072
2003	$ 3,750=3	$1,801	$5,551	230	$25,600	$5,551
2001	$ 3,750=6	None	$3,750	140	$28,750	$3,750
	$74,216	$19,930	$94,146		$145,008	$77,871

 

Text Box 30 -Thompson, Senfronia, 141^st Rep. – Houston

 

Year	Rent + Water	Utilities Misc.	Totals	Session	Per Diem	Amt. Owed
2010	$ 6,460=4	None	$6,460	None
2009	$16,900=11	None	$16,900	140	$23,856	$16,900
2007	$13,075=9	None	$13,075	140	$21,400	$13,075
2006	$21,445=15	None	$21,445	None
2005	$14,880=10	None	$14,880	200	$25,600	$14,880
	$72,760		$72,760		$70,856	$44,855

Text Box 31 - Villarreal, Mike – 123^rd Rep. – San Antonio

 

Year	Rent + Water	Utilities Misc.	Totals	Session	Per Diem	Amt. Owed
2010	$2,600=4	None	$2,600	None	Unknown
2009	$9,750=15	None	$9,750	140	$23,856	$9,750
2005	$512 – RV	None	$512	200	$25,600	$   512
	$12,862		$12,862		$49,456	$10,262