A LOTTA GOP KISSY-FACE IN TEXAS

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott his turned down a request by six Democratic members of the state House of Representatives seeking additional damages against a Republican political action committee which was ruled to have violated state campaign financing laws, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

The ruling Thursday by Senior Retired State District Court Judge Joe Hart against Texans for a Republican Majority was that it's treasurer, former Dallas-area legislator and co-founder of the Texas Conservative Coalition Bill Ceverha failed to disclose nearly $1.3 million in corporate contributions and expenditures made during the state legislative campaign three years ago. Texas law says that corporate donations cannot be used in campaigns except to pay a PAC's overhead expenses. Private attorneys can sue to collect double damages for injured candidates, and the attorney general can file suit to collect triple damages for taxpayers.

The decision puts Abbott --- a Republican with his own ties to such groups --- in a harsh light. TRMPAC Executive Director John Colyandro was an advisor to Abbott's own campaign in 2002; he is now facing criminal charges of money laundering and accepting illegal contributions in Travis County. Defeated Democrats have also filed suit against Colyandro, but his part in the litigation has been suspended pending resolution of his criminal charges.

Also, the Virginia-based Law Enforcement Alliance of America spend corporate contributions to air television ads against Abbott's opponent, former Austin mayor Kirk Watson. Although Abbott said his campaign did not coordinate it's efforts with that of LEAA, Colyandro said he recruited the organization to aid in legislative campaigns in the Lone Star State. It, too, is facing a lawsuit on behalf of Watson as well as an investigation by the local District Attorney.

TRMPAC is affiliated with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, which should not be surprising considering his own ethical shortcomings. Click here to find out more about it's contributions and expenditures noted by the Center for Public Integrity. DeLay, BTW, was not a party to the lawsuits.