Friday, November 18, 2005

“A Lottery Commission that produces more scandals than jackpots should be going out of its way to hire a director who is free of any hint of conflict,” said Texans for Public Justice Director Craig McDonald. Instead, the possible future executive director of the scandal-plagued Texas Lottery Commission would come to the job with disturbing ties to the gambling industry. Lobbyist Ralph Reed targeted then-Rep. Talmadge Heflin in 2001, when Reed and now-indicted federal lobbyist Jack Abramoff were helping to orchestrate a crackdown on Texas Indian casinos on behalf of a competing tribe in Louisiana. Heflin also took $29,392 from donors with an interest in legalizing slot machines for his failed 2004 reelection campaign. Read More