When one looks at the wheeling and dealing that went on with the Texas Enterprise Fund, my question is this: Why is it not an impeachable offense? These folks used the Enterprise Fund for their private playground. They awarded $222 million to entities that, according to the Dallas Morning News, never submitted a formal application or agreed to create a specific number of jobs (all of which is required for those seeking TEF grants). Remember, these are state tax dollars that Perry and Abbott were playing fast and loose with, and they were getting goodies from campaign contributors. Abbott, not incidentally, has received $1.4 million in contributions. Isn’t he in the position of being a fiduciary with respect to the Enterprise Fund?
Readers with long memories will recall that many lawmakers regarded the TEF as a slush fund for Rick Perry at its inception. Here is the truth: Texas politics has become corrupted, and we are no better than Louisiana. The Enterprise Fund Scandal may turn out to be another Sharpstown.