Greg Abbott: Happiness is a donor with a $100,000 check
Greg Abbott has cultivated plenty of big-dollar donors as attorney general. Abbott is running for governor and has more than $20 million in the bank for the race. His Republican challenger, former GOP state chairman Tom Pauken, says Abbott is part of the political establishment in Austin more interested in big contributors than average citizens. “Once the election is over, it’s business as usually taking care of the people who write the $100,000 checks,” says Pauken, who’s raised little so far.
So does Abbott’s campaign mail really bring $100,000 checks? Turns out, it does. As attorney general, Abbott has gotten $100,000 checks from 35 millionaires and billionaires – some who’ve mailed multiple $100,000 checks over the years. All told, Abbott has collected more than $4 million as attorney general from people who can write checks of $100,000 or more. Among them – Dallas nuclear waste site owner Harold Simmons (who’s sent seven checks of $100,000 or more to Abbott) and Dallas investor Kenny Trout (who has contributed five $100,000 checks since 2007). Others in the $100,000 club include Fort Worth oilman Lee Bass, Dallas energy investor Ray Hunt, Houston Texans owner Robert McNair, oilman T. Boone Pickens and Dallas fracking executive Trevor Rees-Jones.
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/greg-abbott-happiness-is-a-100000-check.html/
[font color=green]T. Boone Pickens might have to cut his contributions since he is no longer considered to be a billionaire. Pickens' ROI with Abbott hasn't contributed much to his bottom line.[/font]