Interesting. Saw this via the AP News, about how some Texas lawmakers have cozy lobbyist ties. Seems that Craddick and Mr Miller both have business interests that they didn't disclose on their TEC report (Texas Ethics Commission). Then somebody filed a complaint about it and lo and behold, Miller corrected his form. One wonders if he would have done so if it hadn't come to light.
AUSTIN (AP) - Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick is in business with a lobbyist but can't say who. Fellow Rep. Sid Miller finally disclosed his lobbyist dealings, but only after someone complained......
Miller, a Stephenville Republican, has ownership in a political and commercial phone bank company that was co-founded by A-list lobbyist and consultant Todd Smith. More than half of Miller's campaign expenditures since 2000 _ $576,000 _ have gone to Smith, and some of that went into one of the companies they both own shares in, E-Communications Advantage.
I've been wondering about this as well. I've been monitoring Sid Miller's TEC reports for awhile and he gives a LOT of money to Todd Smith. See here from July 15, 2008. More from around 2000. October 2006 -gave 19,101.13 to Todd Smith for invitations! and more from 2000-2005.
Miller and Smith's business relationship isn't illegal but he's supposed to disclose it - and didn't. Miller corrected his disclosure forms on September 25th. That was the day after a supporter of his Democratic opponent signed a complaint filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Miller called it an oversight.
More on e-communications advantage
Domain Record- Created on: 01-Jul-94
Administrative Contact:
Scott, Glenn
E Communication Advantage Inc 8317 Cross Park Drive Suite 350
Austin, TX
78754
United States
Executive Team- CEO- Richard Trachtenberg, Bill Persons, Jack McElaney, Address is Walnut Creek Business Park, 8317 Cross Park Drive Suite 350 Austin, TX 78754
I haven't seen the complaint to TEC so I don't know how it was known that MIller was partners with Todd Smith in this company. but he definitely didn't make that information known initially, eh? And I suspect it has something to with TRMPAC.
P.S. Mr Miller replied to this via email.
Just saw your post. I haven't received any notice of a complaint from the ethics commission on this issue. I heard a rumor that someone was going to file on me. I checked to see if I could find any thing and discovered an omission and immediately corrected it. I found it odd that only one person had signed for my personal financial statement this year and that was back on march 22, a Ms Uresti who listed that she works for the liberal group Texas Progress Council. This is a preconceived political attack or they would have filed months ago instead of 4 weeks before the election. Also I don't serve on the ECA board, and haven' since 2005, nor does Mr. Smith, see the attached minutes of the march 2006 board meeting. It appears Mr. Casbeer is getting very desperate to win this election and will stop at nothing to do so. You have my permission to post this message.
My reply as well. I saw this via an AP news article (one can look at Yahoo News and see this listed on a variety of sites all over the internet. I haven't seen the ethics violation, as I said before, although I am asking around if someone has it, but if the AP article mentions it and indicates that Mr. Miller altered his record after the violation was filed, I report what I read in the news article. I do have a question. I am curious why the Secretary of State's website lists Mr. Miller, as of March 15, 2008 as on the board of directors if he was actually removed in a previous year.
The minutes that Mr Miller included in his email, unsigned but dated March 24 2006, to me have this part
New Directors and Election of Officers. Richard Trachtenberg recommended that ECA continue to operate with five directors until the appropriate candidates are identified. Richard Trachtenberg further indicated that he was comfortable with having only five directors considering the current mix and skill set. It was requested that Mike Weinnig rejoin the Compensation Committee considering the departure of Sid Miller and Kathy Kerr in 2005 and 2006, respectively. A motion was made to elect Richard Trachtenberg Chairman of the Board/President and William M. Person Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer for 2006. Motion was seconded and unanimously adopted.
Again, the attachment was not signed and dated. Presumably whoever presented the information regarding the business to the Secretary of State's office had to attest to its truthfulness.
Overall, I also wonder why Mr Miller was in business with a lobbyist and didn't disclose this on any ethics reports. Or perhaps Mr Miller will point me to original, uncorrected ethics reports filed with TEC at the time he says he *was* on the board that show that he was on the board of the company with, among others, Todd Smith.
I don't work for Ernie Casbeer's campaign but do plan to vote for him in next month.
P.P.S. the AP article says that Miller is a co-owner with Todd Smith of the company. I, of course, have no way to know what they know and how they investigated this, but here's another question. Let's say that the information on the Secy of State's website is wrong, although it's not clear to me that it is,. But suppose Miller really is no longer on the board-Is he still an owner of the business?
