Murky land deals mark Gov. Rick Perry's past

[white cloud]

By JAMES DREW, STEVE McGONIGLE and RYAN McNEILL / The Dallas Morning News
[e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]
Three years after Gov. Rick Perry's biggest real estate score, questions persist about whether the governor benefited from favoritism, backroom dealing and influence-buying.

The Dallas Morning News found evidence that Perry's investment was enhanced by a series of professional courtesies and personal favors from friends, campaign donors and the head of a Texas family with a rich history of political power-brokering.

Together they may have enriched Perry by almost $500,000, according to an independent real estate appraisal commissioned by The News.
>>>>>>

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-perryland_25pro.ART.State.Edition2.4dace59.html

[sonias]

1. "benefited from favoritism, backroom dealing and influence-buying"

Of course he did! This is why Rick "Chicken" Perry is in politics. To enrich himself. No question about it. Perry thinks if he hides in plain site no one will pick up on these things. And normally the media don't. :(

At the center of the dispute is a gently sloping, half-acre grassy lot on the shore of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson in the Texas Hill Country resort of Horseshoe Bay. The resort is owned by Doug Jaffe, whose family has long, deep and sometimes controversial ties to Texas politics.

Jaffe's company had sold the parcel to state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, a friend and political ally of Perry's. Fraser sold the lot to Perry for just above $300,000.

By the way it's nice to see the mainstream media finally pick up on this. Great going DMN! :applause: :applause: :applause:

The Texas Observer covered the tax protest on this same house over a year ago.

Texas Observer 5/29/10
Reappraising the Governor
Rick Perry's private tax protest.
Long before he got national attention for secessionist foreplay at Tax Day tea parties, Gov. Rick Perry quietly launched a personal tax revolt. In March 2001, Texas' new governor bought an exclusive lot on Lake LBJ's Horseshoe Bay. Horseshoe Bay Republican state Sen. Troy Fraser sold Perry the Hill Country tract six months after Fraser bought it, along with an adjacent one, in the ritzy Peninsula development. Horseshoe Bay Resort's Web site calls the Peninsula its "most prestigious address", adding, "Only 10 legacy waterfront estates lie behind its magnificent gated entrance and the Italian fountains with their distinctive lion head statuary."

When Perry received his first property-tax assessment for this "prestigious address," the lion in the Governor's Mansion shook his majestic mane and issued a roar of protest. The Burnet Central Appraisal District had pegged the lot's value at $414,700 for tax purposes. After Perry protested, the district slashed its appraisal to $313,762, the price the governor said he paid to Fraser.

The district stuck to this appraisal for six years during the now-notorious real estate bubble. The governor had coveted waterfront property. Connie Barrington, who has sold Horseshoe Bay real estate for 25 years, told the Observer, "We are running out of waterfront."

[w8liftinglady]

2. I hope Bill White spreads this all over perry's hypocritical self...

[sonias]

3. Report: Perry deal got boost

AAS 7/25/10
Report: Perry deal got boost

Gov. Rick Perry's investment in a Texas resort property was enhanced by a series of professional courtesies and personal favors from friends, campaign donors and the head of a Texas family with a rich history of political power-brokering, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday.

(snip)
Raising eyebrows

Perry has portrayed himself as one of the most financially transparent governors in Texas history and has attacked Democratic opponent Bill White for past business deals and for not releasing all his tax returns.

The head of a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes transparency in government said Perry's Horseshoe Bay transactions look questionable.

"The man on the street on this would think that this is a series of deals that smell of special favors being created for elected officials to curry their favor," said Ellen Miller, executive director of the Sunlight Foundation in Washington.

Keep it going media!

:kick:

[hobbit709]

4. "He’s As Slippery As A Pocketfull of Banana Pudding"

That's Juanita's comment.

[sonias]

5. White questions Perry’s land deal

Postcards from the Lege AAS blog 7/26/10
White questions Perry’s land deal

FORT WORTH — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White today continued his streak of hammering Gov. Rick Perry publicly, this time questioning whether the governor acted with integrity during a land deal several years ago in Horseshoe Bay.

Addressing a Sheriffs’ Association of Texas conference, White asked law-enforcement officials how long they thought it would take for them to be under investigation if they made a large sum of money buying a piece of land for less than market price and selling it for more.

"Ask yourself that question," White told a ballroom full of attendees of the convention, which attracted more than 1,500 sheriffs and other law-enforcement officials.

Perry act with integrity? The answer is "Hell no".

:kick:

[white cloud]

6. White: Perry used shady land deal to get rich

By ANGELA K. BROWN / Associated Press


Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White on Monday accused Gov. Rick Perry of becoming a millionaire through unethical real estate deals, seizing on a newspaper report that raised questions about Perry's purchase and sale of a plot of land in an upscale resort community.

Speaking at the Sheriffs' Association of Texas annual conference, White addressed a story in The Dallas Morning News that suggested Perry bought the lot in question for less than market value and sold it for more than it was worth through professional courtesies and personal favors from friends and campaign donors.

White said that if a sheriff or deputy had done the same thing while in office, becoming a millionaire after selling land "to somebody with a history of (being) connected with arms dealing ... how long do you think it would take for you to be under investigation for that?"
>>>>>>>>
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D9H70HV01.html

[white cloud]

7. Perry denies improper dealings in land sale

07/26/2010

By ANGELA K. BROWN / Associated Press


Gov. Rick Perry has denied that he did political favors or had improper business dealings with his investment in a Texas resort property.

On Monday before speaking at a law enforcement conference, Perry addressed a Dallas Morning News report that he bought a lot at the Horseshoe Bay resort at below market value and later sold it for well
>>>>>
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D9H6S06O0.html

[sonias]

8. Perry, Perry quite contrary

Who the hell is going to believe you Ricky, Chicky, Chicky?

Of course he's going to deny any wrongdoing. Just like he denied any wrong doing in the 2006 race against Chris Bell. But he settled up for $426,000 anyway. Yeah right!

The words "honest and transparent" do not belong in the same sentence with Perry's name.

:kick:

[sonias]

9. Why Rick Perry's Land Deal Could End His Campaign: $572,238 in Profit

Burnt Orange Report 7/28/10
Why Rick Perry's Land Deal Could End His Campaign: $572,238 in Profit

Rick Perry's land deal has put Texas' Governor into criminally dangerous legal territory, jeopardizing his campaign and thrusting the 10-year incumbent into a political scandal we haven't seen in Texas since the days of Sharpstown.

Rick Perry made $572,238 off of a land deal thanks to his political buddies. From the DMN:

The Dallas Morning News found evidence that Perry's investment was enhanced by a series of professional courtesies and personal favors from friends, campaign donors and the head of a Texas family with a rich history of political power-brokering.

Perry spokesman Mark Miner refuses to answer media questions about the land deal. Perry himself has brushed off the charge, but rumors are that top advisers in his campaign team have gone into lockdown to figure out how to handle the allegations. It may only be a matter of time before law enforcement agencies are brought in to investigate the charges themselves -- much like they've done with political criminals across the country.

What exactly did Perry do? Here's Part One a recap of the land deal, focusing on exactly how Perry profited $572,238 on this scandal. Tomorrow, I'll post Part Two, which looks more closely at some of the friends in high places Perry got involved to help him make a profit.

Keep it going!

:kick:

[white cloud]

10. Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Real Estate Windfall Attracts Public Scrutiny

Horseshoe Bay, a vacation playland about 50 miles west of Austin on gleaming Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, has yachts, three championship golf courses, the biggest private plane FBO in the state, and the Hill Country of Texas as the backdrop. No wonder it is often referred to as the Pebble Beach of Texas. This is also where Texas Gov. Rick Perry has come under fire for a real estate deal that some say smacks of political favors and cronyism.

Some of the richest Texans vacation at Horseshoe Bay in mega-million-dollar homes: West Texas ranchers, oilmen, Roger Staubach, Jim Lovell, even the late Red Adair. Horseshoe Bay, once a goat ranch, is so attractive to Lone Star wealth that it is one of the reasons why Ilano County has been crowned as one of the top five places in the U.S. by Forbes magazine where, based on IRS data, the rich are moving.

Perry, a Republican, faces Democratic challenger Bill White of Houston (who Perry is grilling for not releasing tax returns) after defeating Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican primary. But a recent story in The Dallas Morning News diagrams just how Perry may have had a little help from his friends, pocketing more than $500,000 from a Horseshoe Bay real estate deal.

According to an independent appraisal by the News, Perry's land appraisals were also a bit fuzzy. Critics charge that as governor of Texas, Perry should not use the influence of the governor's office to pad his pockets.
>>>>>>>



http://omniqa.sandox.housingwatch.com/2010/07/27/texas-governor-rick-perrys-real-estate-windfall-attracts-public/

[sonias]

11. Excellent - this story has legs

:woohoo:

All the more reason Rick "chicken" Perry is going to duck the debate. He can't handle controversy.

He's does not want to have to face the public and explain how he enriches himself each day he's in office.

[sonias]

12. White calls on Perry to come clean in land deal

News 8 Austin 7/26/10
White calls on Perry to come clean in land deal

Throughout the gubernatorial campaign, Democratic candidate Bill White has been trying to paint Gov. Rick Perry as being "in it for himself."

A Dallas Morning News report from Sunday claims Perry bought a lot at the Horseshoe Bay resort from a state senator at below market value and later sold it for well above market value.

Perry denies any wrongdoing, but some political pundits said the players involved don't put him in a positive light.

On a waterfront property, on the shore of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, sits a private driveway leading out to what's called "The Peninsula," where Perry used to own a piece of land in the Texas Hill Country resort of Horseshoe Bay.

The posh area is now the center of attention, after the Morning News report, claiming Perry had improper dealings in buying and selling the land.

Adding more stories to the sordid land deal archive thread.

Pile on! :kick:

[sonias]

13. Did Perry Land Deal Benefit from Courtesies?

MyFox Houston 7/26/10
Did Perry Land Deal Benefit from Courtesies?

DALLAS - Gov. Rick Perry's investment in a Texas resort property was enhanced by a series of professional courtesies and personal favors from friends, campaign donors and the head of a Texas family with a rich history of political power-brokering, The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday.

Together they may have enriched the Republican governor by nearly $500,000, according to an independent real estate appraisal commissioned by the newspaper.

Perry's aides said all transactions surrounding the governor's 2007 sale of a lot at Horseshoe Bay resort were properly handled. They cite a bank's appraisal at the time that said the buyer paid Perry slightly less than market value.

On Sunday, Perry spokeswoman Katherine Cesinger said the governor "fully disclosed the transaction in publicly released tax returns, ethics reports, closing statements and appraisal documents."

Courtesies? How quaint. A good way to "white wash" a scandal with a nice little word like courtesies.

[sonias]

14. Fraser Failed to Disclose Perry Land Deal

(By the way I've copied more paragraphs than normal since the Texas Tribune has a new policy of take content, please. Good for them!

Texas Tribune 7/29/10
Fraser Failed to Disclose Perry Land Deal

The lawmaker involved in a questionable land deal with Gov. Rick Perry failed to disclose ownership or sale of the property to the Texas Ethics Commission, an apparent violation of a state ethics rules, according to a review of his personal financial statements.

State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, didn’t list his September 2000 acquisition of the waterfront lot on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson in the disclosure form he filed for that year. He also didn't note a year later the fact that Perry purchased the property from him in 2001, the documents show.

State law requires elected officials such as Fraser, a friend and political ally of the governor, to describe "any and all" interests they or their families have in real property. They also must disclose any proceeds they received when those interests are sold. Failure to file the forms on time can result in civil penalties levied by the commission, though Fraser will not face enforcement because the commission doesn't have the authority to levy fines for a 10-year-old violation.

Fraser, a wealthy investor, listed numerous stock holdings and other financial information on the 52-page filing but omitted the land deal. He was traveling out of the state on Wednesday and was unavailable for comment, said his chief of staff, Janice McCoy, who declined to discuss the issue.

Andy Wilson, a research associate for campaign finance issues at the watchdog group Public Citizen Texas, said the senator's failure to correctly file the forms is no small matter. "The public’s right to know on this is absolute," Wilson said. "Considering that, for most Texans, their homes are the most important thing that they own, I’m surprised that someone would forget to put this on a financial disclosure — especially waterfront property on Horseshoe Bay."

Ah so you see - the two politically well connected Governor and Senator (childhood friends) failed to disclose the undervalued land sale at the time. How convenient.

Not that the Texas Ethics Commission would be a threat to any corrupt politician in Texas. They're a worthless, toothless agency. :grr:

[sonias]

15. Spotlight on personal business in governor's race

WFAA Dallas 7/26/10
Spotlight on personal business in governor's race
FORT WORTH — Republican Gov. Rick Perry has been critical of Democratic opponent Bill White's business deals and government service.

He now has to defend his own questionable land deal.

Perry says he did nothing wrong, but White responded Monday claiming that Perry's integrity should be questioned because of the political connections and profit involved.

(snip)
The governor said his purchase and sale were at market value, but the newspaper hired appraisers who concluded Perry bought below and then sold above market value, adding almost $500,000 in extra profit.

(snip)
An officer of the Horseshoe Bay resort, Ron Mitchell, helped Perry sell the land. In 2009, Perry appointed Mitchell to the Texas State University Board of Regents.

Ron Mitchell, another Perry lackey in the deal.

[sonias]

16. Rick Perry should do an infomercial on how to become a millionaire as a professional politician.

This is an older blog post but an excellent recap of Perry's history of using his political connections to "enrich himself"

TTC News blog 9/26/09
Rick Perry should do an infomercial on how to become a millionaire as a professional politician.

Gov. Rick Perry never had much money growing up, and he has spent most of his adult life in public office, drawing a part-time salary as a legislator and relatively modest earnings in statewide office for the last quarter-century.

But thanks to his investments and a series of private land deals, some that took advantage of his political connections, Perry has squeaked over the millionaire line, records examined by The Associated Press show.

Perry's Democratic opponents have suggested in the past that Perry traded on his power and influence to turn a buck. Now Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Perry's opponent in a tough Republican primary as he fights for a third full term, is raising the same accusations.

"Rick Perry should do an infomercial on how to become a millionaire as a professional politician," said Hutchison campaign manager Terry Sullivan. "From abusing his power over appointments to getting sweetheart real estate deals from supporters, he's a regular get-rich-quick icon."

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

[sonias]

17. Rick's Dirty Deals

New Website Showcases Rick Perry’s Love of a Dirty Deal
~ www.RicksDirtyDeals.com ~

(Austin, Texas) – Today, Back to Basics PAC launched a new website highlighting a few of the suspicious and murky land deals that have put hundreds of thousands of dollars in Rick Perry’s pockets.

Rick Perry said, "The idea that you're supposed to go get an ethics report when you buy a piece of property might be a bit cumbersome for elected officials."

We disagree, Governor. Back to Basics PAC believes Texans have a right to know about Perry's dirty deals, and we will continue doing everything we can to make sure all Texas voters hear about his unethical and corrupt behavior.

Visitors can watch Perry play "Let’s Make a Deal" at www.RicksDirtyDeals.com.

(Main website page has audio, so don't click on it at work - unless you have your sound off)

http://www.ricksdirtydeals.com/moffattmillion/

WHO: State Sen. Troy Fraser: boyhood friend of Rick Perry

Alan Moffatt: owner of now-defunct Peak Aviation, a company investigated by the British government for arms shipments to Rwanda during the time of the genocide

Doug Jaffe: businessman and owner of Horseshoe Bay Resort. Numerous business ties to individuals under federal investigations and foreign dictators

Ron Mitchell: Horseshoe Bay resort vice president, who connected the offer from Moffatt to Perry. 2009 Perry appointee to the Texas State University System Board of Regents.

WHAT: .68 acre lot with 35 ft of access to Lake LBJ

(snip)
HOW MUCH: Profit of $839,238, $489,238 more than he would have made using fair market prices

RicksDirtyDeals.com is a Project of the Back to Basics PAC! :applause::applause::applause:

[sonias]

18. Perry cuts corners to award taxpayer dollars to friend's company

Bill White's Campaign Press Release 7/30/10
Perry cuts corners to award taxpayer dollars to friend's company

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 30, 2010

Perry cuts corners to award taxpayer dollars to friend's company

Same friend helped Perry pocket $500,000

AUSTIN -- Bill White today revealed that Rick Perry cut corners to award $2.5 million in taxpayer dollars to Sino Swearingen, a company founded by Doug Jaffe. Jaffe was one of two business partners who helped Rick Perry personally pocket $500,000 in ill-gotten gains.

"Perry cut corners to help a company and help his friends. Sino Swearingen asked Rick Perry for Texas taxpayer dollars from the Texas Enterprise Fund. The company acknowledged in their application that original investors were continuing to fund the company. Well, those original investors included the company's founder, Doug Jaffe, who worked with a business partner to put $500,000 in Perry's pocket," said Bill White.

Documents obtained by public information request show no economic analysis was done for the Sino Swearingen grant. The Office of the Governor reported, "all the responsive info not protected by the " had been produced. The only documents provided are available at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/35120059/Sino-Swearingen-TEF-Application.

"Perry pretends to do economic development and has press conferences about giving away taxpayer dollars to companies he hand-picks. He makes claims about jobs that aren't met. It's a charade. For all we know, Sino Swearingen used the Texas announcement to get a better offer from another state, enriching itself," said White.

Bill White first called for an independent audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund in May 2010.

Requirements for Texas Enterprise Fund grants are available at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/35120063/Requirements-for-TEF-Grant

Perry's press release announcing the Sino Swearingen grant is available at:
http://web.archive.org/web/20061101233034/www.rickperry.org/news/article/277

:dem:

[white cloud]

19. White says Perry used state fund to help man tied to land deal

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White accused Gov. Rick Perry on Friday of trying to use tax dollars to help a businessman with ties to a land deal that made Perry hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Perry's campaign called the accusation unfounded and noted that the state never doled out those tax dollars.

White pointed to Perry's 2006 announcement that Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. would receive a $2.5 million grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund to build a manufacturing facility in the San Antonio area. The Enterprise Fund is a taxpayer-funded account that Perry uses to encourage companies to expand in Texas.
>>>>>>>>
http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/white-says-perry-used-state-fund-to-help-833314.html

[sonias]

20. White: Perry Land Deals Influenced State Grant

Texas Tribune 7/30/10
White: Perry Land Deals Influenced State Grant

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White is calling for an independent audit of Texas Enterprise Fund grants after documents showed the governor's office offered $2.5 million in state subsidies to Sino Swearingen, a company founded by Doug Jaffe. Jaffe is one of two partners involved in a controversial land deal that netted Perry a $500,000 profit.

Perry announced the grant at a press conference in San Antonio in 2006, but taxpayer money never made it to Sino Swearingen. The company rescinded its request for the grant because it had announced layoffs, despite earlier promises of adding 850 jobs. Perry's spokeswoman, Catherine Frazier, said in an email: "Bill White is desperate to deflect from his own ethical problems ... this TEF transaction was no different from any other, was thoroughly vetted and approved by Governor, Lt. Gov and Speaker's offices."

White's accusing Perry of short-cutting established protocol for selecting grantees in order to "help somebody who made a millionaire." The few documents released to the White campaign through the Texas Public Information Act show that no economic analysis was conducted before approving Sino Swearingen for a grant, the White campaign says. The governor's office said that all public records not protected by the Attorney General had been released, and none included an economic analysis, according to a White campaign release. In their application, the company stated that the original investors, including Jaffe, were still on board.

You see how it's all connected. Perry was set to give Jaffee - public money (our taxpayer dollars from the TX Enterprise Fund) and then Jaffe, and then Jaffe buys Perry's Horseshoe bend property for a hefty price, giving Perry a nice 1/2 million profit. So essentially Perry is siphoning off public funds to "enrich" himself. Even if this deal didn't actually go through, you know that there are others he's done the same way. Quid pro quo.

Man that guy is the worst public servant ever! :puke: