Targeted Rep Says Big Donors Buying Off
Governor Who Pushes Puppets for House
Capitol Inside
February 19, 2024
GOP State Rep. Ernest Bailes of Shepherd accused Governor Greg Abbott on Monday of selling out to wealthy contributors on an array of issues from border security to TikTok to the Colony Ridge development and private schools that would profit substantially with a vouchers plan that rural Republicans killed.
Bailes is one of 10 Texas House Republicans who Abbott is targeting in the March 5 primary election as retaliation for votes against the private school subsidies measure that the governor promised to pass last year as his signature priority. Bailes publised the following Facebook analysis today on the Abbott school choice revenge crusade and the governor's attempt to reshape the Legislature's lower chamber into a personal kingdom where independence is taboo with his support for challengers who've vowed to vote exactly like he demands.
"At the request of the Liberty County Commissioners Court, City of Plum Grove, and Cleveland ISD, I worked hard to pass the management district which they had asked me to pass, in order to help provide the additional tools they needed to better regulate the exponential growth of the Colony Ridge Development in Plum Grove, Texas. I worked with Governor Abbott’s office directly on this bill and Governor Abbott personally signed off his approval. However, because of a wide open southern border, these restrictions were not near enough.
"Following this, I was asked by the developer to write a letter in support of designating Colony Ridge as an “Opportunity Zone,” so that his development would be eligible for increased federal funding to promote the growth of said development. I refused to do so; we couldnt handle the growth as it was and sure didn’t need any more! This resulted in the developer making a $50,000 contribution to Governor Abbott, which bought him a sit down lunch in the Governors Mansion with Governor Abbott and his Chief of Staff. This same $50,000 bought the Governor’s signature and blessing for the Opportunity Zone designation.
"Governor Abbott has quite happily accepted in excess of $1.5 million dollars from the developer of Colony Ridge since that first $50,000 contribution. I could say that I was shocked to hear this when I first heard the news, though I really wasn’t too surprised. This is from the same man who championed tort reform, though only after he himself had received an exponential settlement which was sealed and never made public, though would have been strictly prohibited under his new law. Just like the “pay to play” appointment process, by which you must personally contribute to Governor Abbott’s campaign at the tune of 6 or even 7 figures, in order to secure an appointment as a commissioner to a state agency. When State Representative Lyle Larson called out the Governor on this very point and proposed the legislation to restrict “pay to play” as part of ethics reform, it was the Governor directly who felt the most threatened, and vetoed Representative Larson’s bills as a result of his vindictive nature.
"This goes right along with the countless photo ops on our southern border, trips which he has flown down on private jets which belong to the contractors who profit directly from border policies.
"Then fast forward to the $6 million campaign contribution which Governor Abbott received from a Billionaire in Pennsylvania, the largest single donation in Texas history. This same person who gave $3.3 million dollars to pay for all of those AFC Victory Fund mailers that you’ve been receiving. This Billionaire is one of the early investors in TikTok, which Governor Abbott touts that he banned on state phones and computers in 2022. This money is to be used against members who stood in the way of passing vouchers in the State of Texas.
"This whole story which keeps droning on, is akin to the private school tour last spring in which the message of vouchers was preached over and over again, even as the bill which was pushed by Governor Abbott, would have excluded every child currently enrolled in a private school. However the parents of kids who attend these private schools, represent wealthy potential campaign contributors.
"Governor Abbott is expending an astronomical amount of resources this campaign cycle, in order to unseat members who serve their districts, instead of his will. He made one trip to my district last week and coming back again later this month, in order to do his absolute best to make sure that our next representative is someone who has sworn fielty to his agenda, rather than that of representing this district. To receive the endorsement of the Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General, Ag Commissioner, and State Senator, speaks volumes, though not in the sense which most may think. It simply means that they have the utmost belief that once elected, this person will do as they’re told; that they will not buck the system or rock the apple cart.
"To go along to get along has never been who I am. Laying heavy on my heart, is the old adage “triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I stand on my own two feet, not on the platitudes of false pretense. My commitment is to God, my family, and an obligation I made to represent this district, not to fear the consequence of calling out an impropriety. My unwillingness to be a puppet, is why I am challenged so aggressively and by so much money this election. Politics today, is where we like to quote the word of and look fondly upon, those who had stood against oppression and tyranny in the past, though where we have no tolerance nor appetite for anyone who questions those today.
"This job is about doing your absolute best to study each issue to its fullest and make sure that each vote best represents this conservative district, to make sure that we have a voice, and to ensure that voice is heard. This job should never be about walking on eggshells to try to keep everyone happy, to ponder with each vote about how it will incur favor, and definitely not because you were threatened by someone of a higher office.
"I have put 10,000 miles on a diesel pickup in 3 1/2 weeks and my phone says that I am on this blasted thing some 7 hours and 10 minutes a day. When the gavel falls in 2 weeks and this election is over, to say that ‘all will be well with my soul’ is an understatement. I will have given this race everything I have to give, I will have done so with my family standing beside, with my integrity, and with the peace that I did not sell my soul nor conveniently say nothing, just for the sake of winning. With hard truths, come retribution and consequence, though the vindictive nature or man will be out shown when we put things in His hands…"
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