PIRG: Mortgaged House: Endowed Chairs: The Chairperson’s Funding Advantage

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Mortgaged House

D. Endowed Chairs: The Chairperson’s Funding Advantage

The political power wielded by many House committee chairs helps them get a fund- raising leg up on their colleagues. There are 31 current House members who were committee chairs during the 1995 session, when money for the recently completed election cycle was being raised. These members raised almost $4 million, for an average war chest of $127,141. This average reflects a hefty premium over the average overall House war chest of $98,170.

Dist. ’95 Chair Party Committee Chaired War Chest

34 Hugo Berlanga D Public Health $363,550

21 Mark Stiles D Calendars $315,978

72 Rob Junell D Appropriations $242,773

12 Clyde Alexander D Transportation $228,333

70 David Counts D Natural Resources $221,098

137 Debra Danburg D Elections $181,563

45 Edmund Kuempel R Recreational Resources $180,381

59 Allen Place D Criminal Jurisprudence $175,782

96 Kim Brimer R Business & Industry $168,857

53 Harvey Hilderbran R Human Services $162,168

4 Keith Oakley D Public Safety $156,487

18 Allen Hightower D Corrections $153,670

19 Ron Lewis D County Affairs $130,746

1 Barry Telford D Pensions & Investments $117,564

30 Steve Holzheauser R Energy Resources $112,615

82 Tom Craddick R Ways & Means $111,141

8 Paul Sadler D Public Education $106,062

35 Irma Rangel D Higher Education $104,587

37 Rene Oliveira D Economic Development $97,441

99 Kenny Marchant R Financial Institutions $81,755

71 Bob Hunter R State, Fed'l, Int'l Relations $80,839

74 Pete Gallego D General Investigating $70,097

131 Ron Wilson D Licensing $67,670

83 Delwin Jones R Redistricting $62,342

93 Toby Goodman R Juvenile Justice & Family $55,249

112 Fred Hill R Urban Affairs $44,350

88 Warren Chisum R Environmental Regulation $38,100

141 Senfronia Thompson D Judicial Affairs $36,638

146 Al Edwards D Rules & Resolutions $31,475

86 John Smithee R Insurance $29,250

3 Pete Patterson D Agriculture $12,825

Total $3,941,386

Dist.	’95 Chair	Party	Committee Chaired	War Chest
34	Hugo Berlanga	D	Public Health	$363,550
21	Mark Stiles	D	Calendars	$315,978
72	Rob Junell	D	Appropriations	$242,773
12	Clyde Alexander	D	Transportation	$228,333
70	David Counts	D	Natural Resources	$221,098
137	Debra Danburg	D	Elections	$181,563
45	Edmund Kuempel	R	Recreational Resources	$180,381
59	Allen Place	D	Criminal Jurisprudence	$175,782
96	Kim Brimer	R	Business & Industry	$168,857
53	Harvey Hilderbran	R	Human Services	$162,168
4	Keith Oakley	D	Public Safety	$156,487
18	Allen Hightower	D	Corrections	$153,670
19	Ron Lewis	D	County Affairs	$130,746
1	Barry Telford	D	Pensions & Investments	$117,564
30	Steve Holzheauser	R	Energy Resources	$112,615
82	Tom Craddick	R	Ways & Means	$111,141
8	Paul Sadler	D	Public Education	$106,062
35	Irma Rangel	D	Higher Education	$104,587
37	Rene Oliveira	D	Economic Development	$97,441
99	Kenny Marchant	R	Financial Institutions	$81,755
71	Bob Hunter	R	State, Fed'l, Int'l Relations	$80,839
74	Pete Gallego	D	General Investigating	$70,097
131	Ron Wilson	D	Licensing	$67,670
83	Delwin Jones	R	Redistricting	$62,342
93	Toby Goodman	R	Juvenile Justice & Family	$55,249
112	Fred Hill	R	Urban Affairs	$44,350
88	Warren Chisum	R	Environmental Regulation	$38,100
141	Senfronia Thompson	D	Judicial Affairs	$36,638
146	Al Edwards	D	Rules & Resolutions	$31,475
86	John Smithee	R	Insurance	$29,250
3	Pete Patterson	D	Agriculture	$12,825
			Total	$3,941,386

Some committees are bigger money magnets than others. Five 1995 chairs who are still in the House raised more than $200,000 each. Heading this elite Democratic club is Rep. Hugo Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi, who raised $363,550 while chairing the Public Health Committee. Rep. Mark Stiles, D-Beaumont, took in $315,978 while overseeing the Calendars Committee. Rep. Rob Junell, D-San Angelo, raised $242,773 while chairing the Appropriations Committee. Transportation Committee Chair Clyde Alexander, D- Athens, moved $228,333 into his campaign coffers. Finally, Rep. David Counts, D-Knox City, collected $221,098 as Natural Resources Committee chair.

The three members with the least-endowed chairs raised less than one-third of the $98,170 amassed by the average house member. Rules and Resolutions Committee Chair Al Edwards, D-Houston, raised a relatively modest $31,475. Insurance Committee Chair John Smithee, R-Amarillo, took in $29,250. Finally, Rep. Pete Patterson, raised a modest $12,825 as Agriculture and Ranching Committee chair.