Although state law prohibits Texas elected officials from accepting campaign contributions during the legislative session, Gov. Rick Perry this year raised a record $22 million for the Republican Governors Association - a nonprofit political powerhouse that has been Perry's own top benefactor during his decade as governor.
During this year's legislative session moratorium, Perry chaired the Washington-based RGA as it raised about $4 million from Texans, tapping some of the same top contributors to Perry's gubernatorial campaigns, according to a Chronicle analysis of IRS records.
Perry, who chaired the governors association in 2008 and in 2011, has received more donations from the RGA than any other supporter. He collected $3 million from the RGA for his 2010 campaign and another $1 million in 2006 that was challenged by an opponent as an illegal contribution.
Those RGA fundraising activities raise the question of whether Perry was exploiting a loophole in the Texas moratorium by soliciting campaign contributions from Texans with stakes in the outcome of the 2011 legislative session.
Perry's fundraising for governors group draws scrutiny
via chron.com
