- courtesy statesman.com
Huntsville Texas May 4, 2012 | Bill Elmer
Turnabout in Ethics case Against Rep James Keffer
Ethics complaints rain down on Keffer and corporate friends.
In an official response to a sworn complaint, the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) has notified Mr. James Keffer (R-Eastland), he is being investigated for campaign finance violations. (See the attached TEC letter and Sworn Complaint). Keffer himself, along with Representative Vicki Truitt, had filed ethics complaints against Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFFR), a conservative political action committee. (See http://www.chron.com/news/article/Lawmakers-file-ethics-complaint-against-activists-3456460.php) TFFR is grounded in the TEA Party. Keffer is considered too liberal by the TEA Party. (See http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?tag=jim-keffer
A well-known Woodlands TEA party supporter, Mr. Adrian Heath, filed the complaint after noting that Keffer, among other things, accepted campaign donations from two corporations. Accepting donations for campaign financing is illegal in Texas. The two corporations are Eagle Supply & Manufacturing, LLP and Hoffman Energy, LP, both of Eastland.
- Keffer singled out genuine conservative Michael Quinn Sullivan | dallasnews.com
Another TEA Party activist, Mr Jim Doyle filed complaints against the corporations for their part in the illegal transactions. (See the attached TEC letters and Sworn Complaints.)
On the basis of the allegations in the complaints, all three parties must reply to the TEC by May 30 or face separate civil charges and penalties.
Keffer had been previously penalized $3,200 for violations of election law. See http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/sworncomp/2008/2805228.pdf
The earlier complaint alleged that Keffer failed to properly disclose political expenditures made as reimbursements. The TEC scrutinizes repeat offenders closely.
Heath’s and Doyle’s complaints were sent to the Texas Ethics Advisory Board (TEAB) for further review. In a statement to the TEAB about the complaints, Heath commented, “The TEA Party is rising up against liberal and RINO Republicans as well as Democrats. Just wait until the election this fall.” Doyle noted that Keffer “is just as responsible for runaway spending as any Obama Democrat.”
The TEAB is a member of a large group of citizen-taxpayers in suburban Houston and surrounding counties who conduct statewide audits of progressive candidates, officeholders and political action committees contributing to the growth of government and the loss of constitutional authority.
Adrian Heath: 832-978-1602
Jim Doyle: 936-718-2513
936-271-0099
William B. Elmer
Texas Ethics Advisory Board
1016 Elkins Lake
Huntsville, TX 77340
936-730-1555
936-650-2740