DEMOCRATS SUE BONNEN, LUCIO JR.'S AND E3'S GOOD BUDDY

Today, the Texas Democratic Party filed a lawsuit in Travis County District Court regarding serious campaign finance violations by conservative dark money operative Michael Quinn Sullivan and Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen.

Texans deserve to know what happens in their government on their dime, and that elected officials are getting their job done, not scheming to abuse power. That is why, the Texas Democratic Party and State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos took legal action.

“Texans are fed up with back-room deals and unaccountable politicians who put the pursuit of power over everything. These accounts of Speaker Bonnen and Republican Chair Burrow’s comments show they don’t give a damn about the needs of Texans or the respect due to their fellow members elected by the people,” said Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa.

(In contrast to the efforts by state Democrats, the father-son tag team of Texas Senator Eddie Lucio and District 38 State Rep. Eddie Lucio III have fawned over Bonnen even in the face of charges he  made demeaning and bigoted comments about duly-elected Democratic members of the Texas House a lack of respect for women, the LGBT community, and the Jewish community.

In fact, Lucio III hosted a reception for Bonnen in Brownsville last November and has been all over social media rubbing elbows with the beleaguered speaker. The Lucios, bucking the  Democratic Party line, have always done the Republicans bidding to curry favor and remain in their good graces despite their policies which have run counter to Hispanic, minority and women's interests.

During the November reception, the public was invited to attend and listed Ruben O'Bell, Lucio III's assistant as contact person for the affair.)

According to several accounts, big-moneyed Republican interests illegally discussed high priority targets in the Texas Capitol. 

The Republican Speaker of the House, Michael Quinn Sullivan, and Republican House Caucus Chair Dustin Burrows met in the Texas Capitol on June 12 to cook up a scheme that would influence and direct the right-wing political money to target a number of incumbent members of the Texas House, in exchange for press floor privileges for the Empower Texans’ political hacks.

That back-room conversation may have created an unregistered political action committee in violation of state law. That is illegal and it violates multiple sections of Chapter 253, Texas Election Code. These discussions also occurred during the fundraising moratorium and inside the Speaker’s office in the Texas Capitol.

Further, Speaker Bonnen has admitted to making incendiary remarks, but has yet to disclose exactly what these remarks entail. Michael Quinn Sullivan has refused to release the tape, but has repeatedly confirmed these actions took place.

It has also become clear that Speaker Bonnen made demeaning and bigoted comments about duly-elected Democratic members of the Texas House. His derogatory comments not only show a serious lack of judgment and leadership, they show a lack of respect for women, the LGBT community, and the Jewish community.