DeLay - Drip, Drip, Drip...

The AP reports that the trail between Tom DeLay and his PACs' questionable fundraising practices is growing easier to follow.

DeLay Fundraising Plied Special Interests

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer

April 11, 2005, 5:21 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Fundraisers for a political committee founded by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay routinely solicited donations by identifying legislative actions that prospective givers wanted, from video gambling to lawsuit limits, memos show.

"What companies that you know of would be interested in tort reform in Texas with asbestos problems that might support TRMPAC?" one DeLay fundraiser wrote in a memo prospecting for donors to the Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (TRMPAC).

That memo elicited an answer identifying several large companies and interest groups nationwide interested in lawsuit-limiting legislation in Congress and Texas, the documents show.

The fundraisers also discussed using DeLay himself to make calls to round up some of the bigger donations, and referred to delivery of at least two checks they collected directly to the House majority leader.

"Create a top 10 list of givers and let me call them to ask for large contribution," DeLay fundraiser Warren RoBold wrote in August 2002. "I would then decide from response who Tom DeLay others should call."

Other TRMPAC fundraising memos mention that Texas racetrack owners needed state permission for video gambling, that banks wanted new Texas home-lending rules and that energy firms wanted less regulation.

Federal law and congressional ethics rules prohibit government officials from connecting political donations to their official actions. DeLay was admonished last year by the House's ethics committee for creating the appearance of connecting energy industry donations with federal legislation (emphasis added).

DeLay spokesman Dan Allen said Monday, "These memos already have been covered in the press and the conclusions being reached are speculative and unsubstantiated. The contention being pushed is unfairly vague."

Yeah, there's a fiery defense for you. When even your lickspittle can only manage the "it's old news" response, you know you're in for a rough ride.