Report: Donations to George P. Bush Re-election Campaign Followed Contracts From His Office

AUSTIN -- Days after signing a $13 million accounting contract with the Texas General Land Office related to Hurricane Harvey, more than two dozen executives of the company hired to provide disaster recovery services donated $27,500 to George P. Bush, who oversees the office and is running for re-election.The donations by Ridgeland, Miss.-based Horne LLP, first reported by The Texas Tribune, have raised eyebrows from observers who track the influence of money on politics. Dave Levinthal of the Center for Public Integrity in Washington told The Tribune the timing of the donations -- just three days after the $13.47 million contract was signed -- "sure looks like a big thank you." The donations included a $1,000 gift from Jonathan Krebs, the Horne LLP executive who signed the contract with the land office. No laws prevent political donations from employees of companies with government contracts. "Nothing says thank you like sending a big hunk of cash the way of a governmental official you felt has done right by you or done your bidding or made a decision that was favorable to your business interests," Levinthal told The Tribune. "There doesn't appear to be anything legally standing in the way of doing it."  Continue reading...