March 03, 2006

Leininger Clan Injected $3.1 Million Into Texas Politics in Last 5 years  

Conservative activist James Leininger—Texas’ No. 2 individual donor—is making headlines again for trying to defeat moderate Republican Primary candidates who opposed his school-voucher agenda. From 2001 through 2005, Leininger’s family contributed more than $3.1 million to conservative PACs and Republican candidates in Texas, second only to Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, whose family spent $11 million in that period. This spending reflects Leininger’s agenda, which includes vouchers, home schooling, weaker tort laws and abortion restrictions.

The Leiningers’ varied agenda keeps their political machine spinning year after year. When Republicans made a big push to take over the Texas House in 2002, Leininger was there, contributing heavily to Tom DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority PAC ($142,500) and several leading TRMPAC-backed candidates.

Yet the Leiningers spent almost as much in the next election cycle. During the 2004 cycle they heavily backed constitutional amendments prohibiting gay marriages and establishing weaker tort laws. Meanwhile they invested in legislative candidates in advance of their failed 2005 push for school vouchers.

 

Meet the Leiningers

Leininger Donor
James & Cecelia
$3,098,441
Peter (brother)
$29,350
John (brother)
$10,250
Berneta (mother)
$7,000
TOTAL:
$3,145,041

 

The Republican Party, especially its more conservative wing, has been the top beneficiary of the Leiningers’ political spending, with the Republican Party of Texas receiving $500,470 directly from the Leningers over the past five years. The next largest beneficiary is Texas’ largest special-interest PAC, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, which got $350,500 from the Leiningers.

The Leiningers’ favorite statewide candidates in this period were Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst ($225,000), Attorney General Greg Abbott ($198,844) and Governor Rick Perry ($173,068). The Leiningers’ favorite legislative candidates were failed Senate candidate John Shields of San Antonio and failed House candidate Talmadge Heflin of Houston. The latter went to work for Leininger’s Texas Public Policy Foundation think tank after voters threw him out in 2004.

Leiningers Spend 
Like Clockwork

Period
Amount
2001-2002
$1,373,850
2003-2004
$1,318,741
2005
$452,450
TOTAL:
$3,145,041

Recipients of Leininger Largess, 2001 Through 2005

Recipient
Office Sought Or Held
Amount
Republican Party of TX GOP
$500,470
Texans For Lawsuit Reform Backs weak tort laws
$350,500
David Dewhurst Lt. Governor
$225,000
Greg Abbott Attorney General
$198,844
Texans For Governmental Integrity Leininger-controlled PAC
$193,000
Rick Perry Governor
$173,068
Texans for a Republican Majority GOP
$142,500
John Shields Senate
$123,481
Stars Over Texas Backs Speaker Craddick
$103,135
All Children Matter Pro-voucher
$102,000
Texans FOR Marriage Hetero. marriage amend.
$100,000
Yes on 12 Weak tort laws
$100,000
Carole Keeton Rylander Comptroller
$76,000
Talmadge L.Heflin House
$51,000
Kevin P. Eltife Senate
$50,000
TX Republican Legis. Campaign Com. Targets moderate Repubs
$50,000
Jack Stick House
$36,000
Robert F. Deuell Senate
$35,000
Kevin M. Kolb House
$30,700
D. Bryan Hughes House
$30,000
Texas Right To Life Anti-abortion
$30,000
Billy Clemons House
$25,000
John Cornyn Attorney General
$25,000
Victor Carrillo Railroad Commissioner
$25,000
Kenneth B. Mercer House
$21,000
Susan Combs Agriculture Commissioner
$20,000
Ed Harrison Senate
$20,000
Judy Strickland Board of Education
$20,000
Jodie A. Laubenberg House
$17,500
Nelson H. Balido House
$17,000
Associated Republicans of TX GOP
$15,000
Texas Club for Growth Leininger-controlled PAC
$13,000
Craig Estes Senate
$12,000
Jane Nelson Senate
$11,000
Ben Bentzin House
$10,000
Walter W. Christian  House
$10,000
Dallas Co. Republican Party GOP
$10,000
Elizabeth Jones Railroad Commissioner
$10,000
Teresa S. Leo Board of Education
$10,000
Jerry E. Patterson  Land Commissoner
$10,000
Kel G. Seliger Senate
$10,000
Ann L. Witt House
$10,000
TX Home School Coalition Home schooling
$9,500
Jim Valdez Senate
$9,500
Paul Green Supreme Court
$7,000
Rene Diaz District court judge
$5,500
Scott A. Brister Supreme Court
$5,000
Betty J. Brown House
$5,000
Scott E. Campbell House
$5,000
Barbara Calhoun Cargill Board of Education
$5,000
Dan Flynn House
$5,000
Rick Green House
$5,000
Michael W. Hamilton House
$5,000
Linda L. Harper-Brown House
$5,000
Charles F. Howard House
$5,000
James F. Landtroop House
$5,000
David Medina Supreme Court
$5,000
Michael H. Schneider Supreme Court
$5,000
Jesse W. Wainwright Supreme Court
$5,000
Don Willett Supreme Court
$5,000
Florence Shapiro Senate
$2,500
Relvin Kent Sharp House
$2,500
TX Republican Legislative Caucus GOP
$2,500
Frank J. Corte House
$1,600
Rebecca Simmons Court of Appeals judge
$1,500
Michael Williams Railroad Commissioner
$1,250
Kris J. Gillespie House
$1,000
Phillip S. King House
$1,000
W. Kenneth Paxton House
$1,000
Deborah A. Riddle House
$1,000
Eugene J. Seaman House
$1,000
Joe Straus House
$1,000
William W. Zedler House
$1,000
South TX Republicans GOP
$750
Tom Craddick House Speaker
$643
Judicial Roundup PAC Backs judicial candidates
$500
Lori D. Massey District court judge
$500
Wilson Co. Republican Party GOP
$100
TOTAL:
 
$3,145,041