PIRG: Mortgaged House: Findings

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Mortgaged House

III. Findings

The current members of the Texas House raised $14,627,357 in campaign contributions in the last election cycle, from July 1, 1995 through year-end 1996. Political fundraising is a bipartisan sport, with Republicans and Democrats raking in amounts of money that are roughly proportional to each party’s representation in the House. The 81 Democrats studied account for 54 percent of House seats and raked in 60 percent of all House contributions. Setting aside the more than $1 million contributed to Democratic House Speaker Pete Laney, the other 80 Democrats account for 56 percent of the remaining $13.6 million given to House members. The average House Republican received $86,903, while the average House Democrat (excluding the Speaker) received $95,614.

House Democrats and Republicans have similarly voracious appetites for business money and out-of-district money. Republicans ventured out of their districts for 78 percent of the money that they received in contributions of $100 or more. Out-of-district sources contributed 81 percent of the money that Democrats received in such major contributions (this share dips to 79 percent when the Speaker’s contributions are excluded). With or without Speaker Laney, House Democrats took 64 percent of their major contribution money from businesses and PACs. The comparable GOP figure is 61 percent.

While members of both parties clearly depend heavily on PAC, business and out-of-district money, individual House members vary enormously in how much money they raise and from whom.