Well, that's what it looks like, anyway. Remember how TAB (Texas Association of Business) funded campaign literature funded by some corporations for, among others, Sid Miller? There are 2 lawsuits outstanding over this mess, but one of them, presided over by Judge Hart, dropped the corporations from the lawsuit AND said that TAB et al didn't expressly advocate the election or defeat of any candidate. It ain't all over, though.

On Friday, Crews said the decision means corporations are "entitled to buy elections."

Wood, however, said it would be risky for a corporation to rely on Hart's decision until the Texas Supreme Court finally speaks on the broader issues of free speech versus regulating money in politics.

Two years ago, in a similar civil case, Hart found that the treasurer for DeLay's political committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, violated state law by failing to disclose the corporate money the committee had raised and spent to influence the 2002 elections. One big difference in the cases: Texans for a Republican Majority declared itself a political committee; the Texas Association of Business did not.

The treasurer, former Dallas Rep. Bill Ceverha, declared bankruptcy after the trial, later settling the case to stop the appeals.