Dallas area legislators misappropriating state funds – tax avoidance - Part 1
Below are the names of 24Texas state legislators from the Dallas area that have received per diem payments from the State that were intended to defray the lodging costs they incurred while attending legislative sessions in Austin. To view the other 25, go to the URL listed below.
The legislature is in session in odd-numbered years for 140 days unless a special 30 day session is called. Put simply, they meet every two years. The facts set forth in the text boxes below demonstrate that these legislators personally pocketed per diem payments of at least $870,340 when in fact 100% of their lodging expenses during sessions in Austin were paid with funds contributed to their respective campaigns.
The columns in the text boxes below are defined as follows:
Ø Rent + Water = total lodging/water costs + monthly payments made by campaign
Ø Utilities/Misc. = electric, cable, gas, maid services, food/supplies, telephone costs
Ø Per Diem = amount paid to legislator (200-2007 are estimates)
Ø Amt. Owed = represents amount campaign paid for lodging expenses during sessions in Austin that the legislator pocketed when it lawfully should have been paid to campaign
Bottom line here is that the “Amt. Owed” is the amount directly paid to the legislator by the State Controller’s Office that did not represent any out-of-pockets costs for lodging by said officeholder.
No. 1 – Anchia, Rafael – 103rd Rep. – Dallas = $12,145
No. 2 – Berman, Leo – 6th Rep. – Tyler = $6,963
No. 3 – Brown, Betty – 4th Rep. – Terrell = $13,197
No. 4 – Davis, Wendy – 10th Senate – Ft. Worth = $29,540
No. 5 – Davis, Yvonne – 111th Rep. – Dallas = $37,380
No. 6 – Driver, Joe – 113th Rep. – Garland = $44,211
No. 7 – Eltife, Kevin – 1st Senate – Tyler = $36,244
No. 8 – Flynn, Dan – 2nd Rep. – Van = $9,844
No. 9 – Giddings, Helen – 109th Rep. – Dallas = $59,008
No. 10 – Hancock, Kelly – 91st Rep. – North Richland Hills = $7,981
No. 11– Harris, Christopher – 9th Senate – Arlington = $76,224
No. 12 – Kent, Carol – 102nd Rep. – Dallas = $4,150
No. 13 – Hughes, Bryan – 5th Rep. – Mineola = $11,460
No. 14 – Mallory, Barbara – 110th Rep. – Dallas = $7,502
No. 15 – Nelson, Jane – 12th Senate – Grapevine = $112,886
No. 16 – Orr, Robin – 58th Rep. – Burleson = $17,547
No. 17 – Parker, Nathaniel – 63rd Rep. – Flower Mound = $11,846
No. 18 – Paxton, Warren – 70th Rep. – McKinney = $9,341
No. 19 – Shapiro, Florence – 8th Senate – Plano = $121,396
No. 20 – Smith, Todd – 92nd Rep. – Euless = $35,859
No. 21 – Solomons, Burt – 65th Rep. – Carrolton = $64,203
No. 22 – Turner, Christopher – 96th Rep. – Arlington = $5,538
No. 23 – Truitt, Vicki – 98th Rep. – Keller = $37,592
No. 24 – West, Royce – 23rd Senate – Dallas = $98,283
$870,340 = Total amount of the above
Text Box No. 1 – Anchia, Rafael – 103rd Rep. – Dallas
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$9,335=6
|
$2,810
|
$12,145
|
140
|
$24,420
|
$12,145
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box No. 2 – Berman, Leo – 6th Rep. – Tyler
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$4,862
|
$2,101
|
$6,963
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$6,963
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box No. 3 – Brown, Betty – 4th Rep. – Terrell
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$6,337=6
|
$326
|
$6,663
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$6,663
|
2007
|
$6,058=5
|
$476
|
$6,534
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$6,534
|
|
$12,395
|
$802
|
$13,197
|
|
$44,496
|
$13,197
|
Text Box No. 4 – Davis, Wendy – 10th Senate – Ft. Worth
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$12,030=4
|
$ 1,913
|
$13,943
|
None
|
$ 2,520
|
$ 2,520
|
2009
|
$32,959=11
|
$ 3,212
|
$36,171
|
140
|
$27,050
|
$27,050
|
2008
|
$ 2,048=1
|
$19,118
|
$21,166
|
None
|
Unknown
|
|
|
$47,030
|
$24,243
|
$71,280
|
|
$29,540
|
$29,540
|
Text Box No. 5 – Davis, Yvonne – 111th Rep. – Dallas
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Cable
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$ 5,100=6
|
None
|
$ 5,100
|
None
|
|
|
2009
|
$10,200=12
|
None
|
$10,200
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$10,200
|
2008
|
$10,200=12
|
None
|
$10,200
|
None
|
|
|
2007
|
$ 9,900=12
|
None
|
$ 9,900
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$ 9,900
|
2006
|
$ 8,800=11
|
None
|
$ 8,800
|
30
|
|
|
2005
|
$ 9,600=12
|
None
|
$ 9,600
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$ 9,600
|
2004
|
$ 9,600=12
|
None
|
$ 9,600
|
30/60
|
$ 7,680
|
$ 7,680
|
|
$63,400
|
|
$63,400
|
|
$70,596
|
$37,380
|
Text Box No. 6 – Driver, Joe – 113th Rep. – Garland
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$1,509
|
None
|
$ 1,509
|
None
|
$ 3,162
|
$ 1,509
|
2009
|
$7,026=5
|
None
|
$ 7,026
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$ 7,026
|
2008
|
$3,636
|
None
|
$ 3,636
|
None
|
$ 6,191
|
$ 3,636
|
2007
|
$6,861=5
|
None
|
$ 6,861
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$ 6,861
|
2005
|
$5,405=4
|
$1,243
|
$ 6,648
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$ 6,648
|
2003
|
$8,943=7
|
$ 892
|
$ 9,835
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$ 8,862
|
2001
|
$9,962=5
|
$2,203
|
$12,165
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$10,679
|
|
$43,342
|
$4,338
|
$7,680
|
|
$126,059
|
$44,211
|
Text Box No. 7 – Eltife, Kevin – 1st Senate – Tyler
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per Diem
|
Taxable
Income
|
2010
|
$ 6,945= 6
|
$ 639
|
$ 7,584
|
None
|
|
|
2009
|
$17,527=13
|
$1,607
|
$19,134
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$19,134
|
2008
|
$13,917=12
|
$ 760
|
$14,677
|
None
|
$ 3,386
|
$ 3,386
|
2007
|
$13,379=11
|
$ 345
|
$13,724
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$13,724
|
|
$51,768
|
$3,351
|
$55,119
|
|
$48,382
|
$36,244
|
Text Box No. 8 – Flynn, Dan – 2nd Rep. – Van
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$16,000=10
|
$621
|
$16,621
|
140
|
$25,098
|
$9,844
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box No. 9 – Giddings, Helen – 109th Rep. – Dallas
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$ 9,546=5
|
$1,622
|
$11,168
|
140
|
$24,762
|
$11,168
|
2007
|
$10,200=6
|
$2,489
|
$12,689
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$12,689
|
2005
|
$13,847=6
|
$ 199
|
$14,046
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$14,046
|
2003
|
$ 7,395=3
|
None
|
$ 7,395
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$ 7,395
|
2001
|
$13,710=6
|
None
|
$13,710
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$13,710
|
|
$54,698
|
$4,310
|
$59,008
|
|
$117,612
|
$59,008
|
Text Box No. 10 – Hancock, Kelly – 91st Rep. – N. Richland Hills
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$7,844=6
|
$137
|
$7,981
|
140
|
$24,007
|
$7,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box No. 11 – Harris, Christopher – 9th Senate – Arlington
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$12,125= 6
|
$ 2,399
|
$14,524
|
None
|
|
|
2009
|
$20,448=12
|
$ 4,794
|
$25,542
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$14,375
|
2007
|
$ 8,615 = 5
|
$ 2,666
|
$11,281
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$11,281
|
2005
|
$18,504=12
|
$10,677
|
$29,097
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$20,007
|
2003
|
$11,925=9
|
$ 7,624
|
$19,549
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$16,473
|
2002
|
$17,075=12
|
$ 9,304
|
$26,379
|
None
|
|
|
2001
|
$16,950=12
|
$ 7,698
|
$24,648
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$14,588
|
|
$105,642
|
$45,078
|
$150,720
|
|
$116,706
|
$76,724
|
Text Box No. 12 – Hughes, Bryan – 5th Rep. – Mineola
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$4,535=5
|
$1,930
|
$6,465
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$6,465
|
2007
|
$4,995=5
|
None
|
$4,995
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$4,995
|
|
$9,530
|
$1,930
|
$11,460
|
|
$44,496
|
$11,460
|
Text Box No. 13 – Kent, Carol – 102nd Rep. – Dallas
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$4,150
|
None
|
$4,150
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$4,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Text Box No. 14 – Mallory, Barbara – 110th Rep. – Dallas
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$4,408=4
|
None
|
$4,408
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$4,408
|
2007
|
$3,094=2
|
None
|
$3,094
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$3,094
|
|
$7,502
|
|
$7,502
|
|
$44,496
|
$7,502
|
Text Box No. 15 – Nelson, Jane – 12th Senate – Grapevine
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$10,800= 6
|
None
|
|
None
|
$ 2,520
|
$ 2,520
|
2009
|
$21,600=12
|
None
|
|
140
|
$25,808
|
$21,600
|
2008
|
$19,800=11
|
None
|
|
None
|
$ 4,726
|
$ 4,726
|
2007
|
$15,000=8
|
None
|
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$15,000
|
2006
|
$24,000=12
|
None
|
|
30
|
|
|
2005
|
$20,000=10
|
None
|
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$20,000
|
2004
|
$22,000=11
|
None
|
|
30/60
|
$ 7,680
|
$ 7,680
|
2003
|
$24,000=12
|
None
|
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$24,000
|
2002
|
$13,000=10
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
|
2001
|
$19,500=12
|
None
|
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$17,360
|
2000
|
$18,000=12
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
$207,700
|
|
|
|
$125,904
|
$112,886
|
Text Box No. 16 – Orr, Robin – 58th Rep. – Burleson
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$6,784=5
|
$344
|
$7,128
|
140
|
$26,593
|
$7,128
|
2008
|
$8,070=6
|
$728
|
$8,978
|
None
|
$ 3,322
|
$3,322
|
2007
|
$6,725=5
|
$372
|
$7,097
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$7,097
|
|
$21,579
|
$1,444
|
$23,023
|
|
$51,055
|
$17,547
|
Text Box No. 17 – Parker, Nathaniel – 63rd Rep. – Flower Mound
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$5,208=5
|
$985
|
$6,193
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$6,193
|
2007
|
$5,293=5
|
None
|
$5,293
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$5,293
|
|
$10,501
|
$985
|
$11,846
|
|
$44,496
|
$11,846
|
Text Box No. 18 – Paxton, Warren – 70th Rep. – McKinney
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$3,858=5
|
$672
|
$4,530
|
140
|
$25,591
|
$4,530
|
2007
|
$4,383=5
|
$428
|
$4,811
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$4,811
|
|
$8,241
|
$1,100
|
$9,341
|
|
$46,731
|
$9,341
|
Text Box No. 19 – Shapiro, Florence – 8th Senate – Plano
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$18,104= 6
|
$1,241
|
$19,345
|
None
|
$ 2,294
|
$ 2,294
|
2009
|
$30,784=11
|
$1,145
|
$31,929
|
140
|
$26,712
|
$26,712
|
2008
|
$41,721=13
|
$1,185
|
$42,906
|
None
|
$ 2,363
|
$ 2,363
|
2007
|
$34,309=14
|
$2,392
|
$36,701
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$21,400
|
2006
|
$26,881=11
|
$2,013
|
$28,894
|
30
|
|
|
2005
|
$14,748=6
|
$1,920
|
$16,668
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$16,668
|
2004
|
$25,200=12
|
$2,474
|
$27,674
|
30/60
|
$ 7,680
|
$ 7,680
|
2003
|
$25,200=12
|
$1,719
|
$26,919
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$26,919
|
2002
|
$26,190=12
|
$ 367
|
$26,557
|
None
|
|
|
2001
|
$23,624=12
|
$ 418
|
$24,042
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$17,360
|
2000
|
$19,015=12
|
$ 266
|
$19,281
|
|
|
|
|
$285,776
|
$15,140
|
$300,916
|
|
$124,219
|
$121,396
|
Text Box No. 20 – Smith, Todd – 92nd Rep. – Bedford
Year
Mos.
|
Rent
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Total
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2008
|
$4,064=4
|
$1,147
|
$5,211
|
None
|
$3,759
|
$3,759
|
2007
|
$6,960=5
|
$1,742
|
$8,702
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$8,702
|
2005
|
$6,515=6
|
$2,153
|
$8,668
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$8,668
|
2003
|
$5,263=5
|
$2,933
|
$8,196
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$8,196
|
2001
|
$5,149=5
|
$1,385
|
$6,534
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$6,534
|
|
$27,951
|
$9,360
|
$37,311
|
|
$96,609
|
$35,859
|
Text Box No. 21 – Solomons, Burt – 65th Rep. – Carrolton
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2010
|
$ 7,237=5
|
$ 803
|
$8,040
|
None
|
$ 3,906
|
$ 3,906
|
2009
|
$11,977=12
|
$2,413
|
$14,390
|
140
|
$30,544
|
$14,390
|
2008
|
$10,298=11
|
$2,349
|
|
None
|
$ 8,149
|
$ 8,149
|
2007
|
$10,938=12
|
$2,386
|
$13,324
|
140
|
$21,140
|
$13,324
|
2006
|
$ 6,004=11
|
$1,091
|
|
None
|
|
|
2005
|
$ 3,500=10
|
$1,122
|
$4,622
|
200
|
$25,600
|
$ 4,622
|
2004
|
$ 6,498=8
|
$ 913
|
|
30/60
|
$ 7,860
|
$ 7,860
|
2003
|
$ 3,827=10
|
$2,415
|
$6,242
|
230
|
$28,750
|
$ 6,242
|
2002
|
$ 4,935=4
|
$ 835
|
|
None
|
|
|
2001
|
$ 4,160=4
|
$1,550
|
$5,710
|
140
|
$17,360
|
$ 5,710
|
|
$69,374
|
$15,877
|
$85,251
|
|
$135,449
|
$64,203
|
Text Box No. 22 – Turner, Christopher – 96th Rep. – Arlington
Year
|
Rent +
Water
|
Utilities
Misc.
|
Totals
|
Session
|
Per
Diem
|
Amt.
Owed
|
2009
|
$4,671=5
|
$867
|
$5,538
|
140
|
$23,856
|
$5,538
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|