Who are the "Leininger Five?"
Dr. James Leininger, a San Antonio billionaire who made his fortune designing and manufacturing hospital beds,is also well known as one of the state's largest political givers. His greatest passion: passing legislation to provide tax-paid private school vouchers to poor children in failing public schools.
This year Leininger targeted five Republican members of the House who voted against a voucher bill last session by backing their opponents. They are mostly in suburban or rural areas where vouchers aren't popular. (Scripps Howard a year ago, found 55 percent of Texans opposed and 39 percent in favor.)
If the other five incumbents lose, "it will strike fear into the rest of the Legislature," says Rep. Carter Casteel, one of Leininger's targets. It will show that a wealthy man can gain control of the Legislature by targeting key incumbents with misleading campaigns. Legislators may have to choose between voting the interests of constituents, or of Leininger and other wealthy men who learn from him. Such is the fight for the direction of the Texas Republican party and perhaps our state.
The Five are:
Wayne Christian, running against incumbent Roy Blake, of Nacogdoches, has raised $195,058. Leininger's PAC gave him $190,388, or 98 percent.
•Mark Williams, running against Tommy Merritt, of Longview, has raised $351,179. Leininger's PAC gave him $338,359, or 96 percent.
•Nathan Macias, running against Carter Casteel, of New Braunfels, has raised $278,132. Leininger's PAC gave him $265,774, or 96 percent.
•Chris Hatley, running against Charlie Geren, of Fort Worth, has raised $161,373. Leininger's PAC gave him $124,528, or 77 percent.
•Van Wilson, running against Delwin Jones, of Lubbock has raised $301,707. Leininger's PAC gave him $265,443, or 88 percent.
Note: These figures are not final figures.
Mar 7, 2006
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3 comments:
Dr. James Leininger should be praised for his efforts overall. He gives huge amounts from his personal fortune for privately funded voucher programs, so that a few poor kids can get into decent schools. He spends a fraction of that amount on political donations to political candidates who support those endeavors and who are open to publicly funded voucher programs so that a few more poor kids can get into decent schools. Remember, ultimately, it's about saving the kids not the schools themselves.
well said, jb.
It isn't about poor kids.
There aren't enough private schools for poor kids.
Poor kids don't live near these schools.
These schools don't want poor kids.
There is nothing stopping these schools form offering poor kids free tuition.
It is about greed and religion.
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