TX HD 43: More On Ybarra’s TLR Ties

[Thanks to one of our favorite tipsters for tipping us off to much of what is contained below--VL]

Following our post this morning on Tara Rios Ybarra’s $50,000 from Texans For Lawsuit Reform, we’ve learned more about Ybarra’s campaign contributions: The vast majority have ties to Texans for Lawsuit Reform, in addition to the $50,000.

At least $68,000 of the $79,000 she reported in donations either came from TLR or persons closely connected with the PAC.

Another $2,500 came from people associated with the URI uranium mine that operates (to the tune of much controversy) in House District 43. The mine is currently involved in litigation with Kleberg County over its operations, and mine officials were angered by Escobar’s addition of an amendment to a uranium mining proposal that guaranteed the right of individuals to grant permits for new wells. URI, though its lobbyist Hugo Berlanga, put up stiff opposition to the amendment.

Although Escobar wasn’t a member of the Legislature when the bogus “tort reform” legislation passed (he took office in May after the debate was over), it isn’t clear that TLR even has a specific axe to grind with him. Instead, if appears that their support for Craddick is driving the contributions since Escobar opposed the speaker. Ybarra has, however, attacked Escobar for not supporting the initial version of a bill regulating torts against ocean sand dredging companies (which TLR backed), but failed to mention that Escobar voted for the final version of the bill.

In addition, Ybarra’s report that she has close ties with GOP consultants John Doner & Associates.
Another interesting fact coming out of Rios Ybarra’s report is her close connection with a major REPUBLICAN

Doner’s previous client list of candidates includes some names that are far from progressive:

MCI
Prop 17 in 1997 (Friends of The University PAC)
Rick Perry for Lt. Gov.
Doc Anderson
Alan Askew
Associated Republicans of Texas Campaign Fund
Kip Averitt
Jimmie Don Aycock
Todd Baxter
Dwayne Bohac
Betty Brown
Carter Casteel
John Cayce
Walter Christian
Citizens to Elect Melinda Ballard
David Dewhurst Committee
Dee Kelly
Joe Driver
Craig Estes
Dan Flynn
Friends of Ben Bentzin
Friends of David Puryear
Friends of Kyle Janek
Michael Galloway
Gaultney for Ninth Court of Appeals
Kent Grusendorf
Talmadge Heflin
Jill Warren for Texas House
Bill Keffer
Sharon Keller
Roberta Jean Killgore
Phil King
Edmund Kuempel
Eddie Lucio
Kenneth Mercer
Gregory Meyers
Sidney Miller
Nathaniel Parker
Larry Phillips
Physicians for Kenn George
Jim Pitts
Q Pac
Bob Richardson
Tara Rios Ybarra
Michael Savoie
William Siebert
Todd Smith
David Swinford
Texans for Bob Pemberton
Texans for Joe Nixon
Texans for Joe Strauss
Texans for Kenn George
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
Corbin Van Arsdale
Wallace Jefferson for Texas Supreme Court
Jim Wallace
William Welch
Jeff Wentworth
Will Wilson
Ann Witt
John S. Young
John Zerwas

Flynn, Bentzin, Grusendorf and Heflin: not exactly names that are endearing to Democratic Primary voters.

Doner’s contributions, too, are far from even Democratic-leaning:

Arlene Wohlgemuth for Congress
George Bush ’04
HOME-PAC
David Dewhurst
Wallace Jefferson
Carol Kenton Rylander

Doner’s e-wife Kate Doner also runs Doner Fund Raising and worked for Texans for Lawsuit Reform.

Clearly, Ybarra’s claims to be a Democrat. But, her past in Cameron County, as we noted in this morning’s post, she is merely a DINO–a Republican trying to pass as a Democrat. Included in Ybarra’s past is a $1,000 contribution to the 2006 GOP candidate for County Judge in Cameron County. She even served as mistress of ceremonies when he was sworn in by GOP governor Rick Perry.