Readers of my online oeuvre are acutely aware of the campaign finance operations of David Vitter’s LCRM, or what is also known as the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority: they understand how it is a farcical repetition of the corrupt fundraising apparatus with which disgraced former Republican Congressman Tom DeLay purchased seats in the state legislature of Texas; they understand the LCRM’s fundraising structure, particularly how it is bankrolled by a group of 21 people who represent highly localized and extremely limited special interests; they are aware of the tendency of these 21 people to bundle donations into the LCRM with their donations through relatives and through the many LLCs they ostensibly own and operate; and they understand how the LCRM has aired advertisements so scabrous even the candidates this organization supports feel obliged to repudiate them as so much political toxic waste. All this should at this pointe be taken as axiomatic, although it is worth reiterating again and again and again, ad infinitum.
A brief summary of my essay entitled “Exposing the LCRM’s Campaign Finance Structure: An Embarrassment of Riches” is required. According to my article, one that was posted in June at another blog, 21 people submitted donations that accounted for at least 94% of the $1.4 million dollar warchest the LCRM boasted in June. Here are the names of the individuals and companies who submitted these donations: Edward Diefenthal; Joseph Canizaro; Dieter Hugel; Boysie Bollinger; Bollinger Shipyards, one of many Bollinger companies that donated to the LCRM; Morris Dickson, Co.; the Dickson Family, the owners of Morris Dickson; Joseph Spinosa; Michael Polito; MAPP Construction, a company with which Polito is affiliated; Otto Candies; Otto Candies, LLC, which is owned by Otto Candies; Phyllis Taylor; Taylor Energy, the company Taylor inherited from her husband; Dolphin Marine International; Thomas Turner; Mockler Beverage; C-Logistics; CHAND, LLC, a company owned by Bollinger; Richard Gardner; Gray & Company; and Ann Corkery, an attorney from Virginia who also moonlights as a DC Republican operative. These names are significant, as these are the names of the people and companies who were well on their way in June to donating the maximum donation of $100,000 to David Vitter’s LCRM after they already helped that organization amass more than $1,000,000. But because the maximum donation of $100,000 was simply not enough for some of the donors of the LCRM’s founding circle, a few of them exploited a loophole in our state’s campaign finance laws and bundled additional contributions through other companies and through their relatives. Names of bundlers I mentioned in June are C-Logistics, Boysie Bollinger, Michael Polito, Mockler Beverage, Joseph Canizaro and Joseph Spinosa.
But the donations and the bundling do not stop with the LCRM. Having had reviewed the campaign finance reports of all the Republican candidates for the state House who are facing Democratic opponents in runoffs this month, I am prepared to identify, expose and denounce 11 Republican candidates who have received contributions from the LCRM and from the group of donors who are bankrolling the organization David Vitter spearheaded in order to lend their campaign’s both financial and logistical support. David Vitter’s exclusive circle of founding donors is, in other words, funnelling money both directly and indirectly to the campaigns of Republican candidates for the state House, thereby maximizing their financial impact on our state’s elections. Donating to and bundling within the LCRM cannot sate the voracious appetites of this group of people who believe the legislature is on sale to the highest bidder; now they must donate to and bundle donations within the coffers of the candidates they are already supporting through Vitter’s organization. Bundles upon bundles, it seems: bundles within the LCRM and bundles within the bank accounts of Republican candidates. Indeed, the bundles are so tightly bound, it will be difficult if not impossible for these Republican candidates to extricate themselves from these donors and actually voice the concerns of the people they ostensibly desire to represent in Baton Rouge. But unfortunately for these 11 Republican candidates, they must first clear the runoffs the LCRM’s donors bought and secured on their behalf before they can serve as so many marionettes in the state Capitol.
Below each candidate’s name and district number is a list that enumerates the donations the candidate received from the LCRM and from the LCRM’s donors during the jungle primary. Expect these donors and the LCRM to redouble their efforts during the runoff. But notice how the donors to the LCRM coordinated their donations and their bundling to these 11 campaigns: donations from one individual or from several individuals all seem to occur in the same week if not on the same day, and major infusions of cash seem to occur in two month cycles. Do not be surprised if other disturbing patterns emerge from these tables, for these 11 candidates are literally bought by the LCRM’s small group of exclusive donors. And even worse, most of them are also bossed by the LCRM’s “policy guide,” which is usually listed as a $100 in-kind contribution from the LCRM in their campaign finance reports.
Richie BURFORD (R), House District 7, Caddo and DeSoto Parishes
$15,000 of bundled donations
| LCRM, Policy Book | 6 SEPT 2007 | $100 |
| Morris and Dickson, LLC | 19 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| C. Markham Dickson | 19 SEPT 2007 | $800 |
| Paul Dickson | 19 SEPT 2007 | $900 |
| Markham A. Dickson | 19 SEPT 2007 | $800 |
| MAPP Construction | 8 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM | 8 OCT 2007 | $4,900 |
| Robin Arkley II, Cherie Arkley and Ann Corkery | 10 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
Rick NOWLIN (R), House District 23, Natchitoches and Winn Parishes
$10,500 of bundled donations
| Dolphin Marine, LLC | 21 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM | 28 SEPT 2007 | $3,400 |
| Mockler Beverage | 24 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, Policy Briefing Book | 17 SEPT 2007 | $100 |
| Joseph and Sue Ellen Canizaro | 31 July 2007 | $1,000 |
| Joseph Spinosa | 31 July 2007 | $1,000 |
Frankie HOWARD (R), House District 24, DeSoto, Red River, Sabine and Vernon Parishes
$11,600 of bundled donations
| LCRM, Policy Book and Software | 06 SEPT 2007 | $1,600 |
| Joseph Canizaro | 16 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| Joseph Spinosa | 17 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| MAPP Construction | 19 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Morris and Dickson, Co. | 17 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
Lance MAXWELL (R), House District 25, Rapides and Vernon Parishes
$15,000 of bundled donations
| LCRM | 10 OCT 2007 | $4,900 |
| Phyllis Taylor | 17 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Morris Dickson, Co. | 17 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, “Book” | 11 SEPT 2007 | $100 |
| Joseph Spinosa | 17 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| Joseph Canizaro | 16 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
Kirby ROY, III (R), House District 28, Avoyelles Parish
$7,000 of bundled donations
| Joseph Spinosa | 28 JULY 2007 | $1,000 |
| Joseph Canizaro | 28 JULY 2007 | $1,000 |
| LCRM, Software | 06 SEPT 2007 | $1,500 |
| LCRM, “Policy Book” | 06 SEPT 2007 | $100 |
| LCRM | 30 SEPT 2007 | $3,400 |
Jack CAUSEY (R), House District 30, Beauregard and Vernon Parishes
$25,000 of bundled donations
| Gray and Company | 29 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Thomas Turner | 18 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
| MAPP Construction, LLC | 06 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM | 06 OCT 2007 | $3,400 |
| Morris and Dickson, LLC | 17 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Phyllis Taylor | 17 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Bollinger Shipyards | 25 JUNE 2007 | $2,500 |
| Joseph Canizaro | 16 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, Policy Book and Software | 06 SEPT 2007 | $1,600 |
| Joseph Spinosa | 17 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
Raymond “LaLa” LaLONDE (R), House District 39, Lafayette, St. Landry and St. Martin Parishes
$6,600 of bundled donations
| CHAND, LLC | 30 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| Bollinger Shipyards | 30 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, “Campaign Resource Guide” | 30 AUG 2007 | $100 |
| LCRM, “Software” | 10 JULY 2007 | $1,500 |
Joe HARRISON (R), House District 51, Assumption, St. Mary and Terrebonne Parishes
$11,300 of bundled donations
| Joseph and Sue Ellen Canizaro | 17 SEPT 2007 | $500 |
| Bollinger Shipyards | 18 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Dolphin Marine International | 21 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Morris and Dickson, Co. | 27 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, Polling Data | 15 SEPT 2007 | $3,300 |
Mitch THERIOT (R), House District 54, Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes
$20,500 of bundled donations
| Dolphin Marine International | 22 AUG 2007 | $2,500 |
| Candies Shipbuilders, LLC | 27 AUG 2007 | $2,500 |
| Otto Candies, LLC | 27 AUG 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, “Software” | 16 SEPT 2007 | $1,500 |
| LCRM | 12 SEPT 2007 | $3,500 |
| Taylor Energy Company | 24 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Phyllis Taylor | 24 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Andrea Bollinger | 18 OCT 2007 | $500 |
| Bollinger Shipyards | 12 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
Nickie MONICA (R), House District 57, St. James and St. John the Baptist Parishes
$9,000 of bundled donations
| Joseph Canizaro | 05 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| Joseph Spinosa | 05 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, “Software” | 10 SEPT 2007 | $1,500 |
| Taylor Energy Company | 28 SEPT 2007 | $2,500 |
Danyelle TAYLOR (R), House District 83, Jefferson Parish
$15,000 of bundled donations
LCRM donated $2,500 in excess of the $5,000 limit to the Taylor Campaign
| Joseph Canizaro | 18 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| Joseph Spinosa | 17 JULY 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM | 09 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM | 08 OCT 2007 | $3,400 |
| MAPP Construction | 08 OCT 2007 | $2,500 |
| LCRM, Software | 21 AUG 2007 | $1,500 |
| LCRM, Guide | 21 SEPT 2007 | $100 |
The implementation of DC Republican politics in Baton Rouge can be enacted in two simple steps: bundle donations into a PAC to be managed by a Republican US Senator; bundle donations into the individual campaigns of Republican candidates; et voilà, one has a Republican majority in the state House. But the LCRM’s circle of wealthy donors neglected to consider one small contingency: if the voters are alerted to the operations of their campaign finance racket, they and their candidates will be set to rout. Let us hope this will be the case on 17 November.
CenLamar 
You know, as voters I think people should seriously be asking (whether they believe the LCRM argument or not — I do), what some of these candidates are doing with some of these donations. This has to most rank overtones of backroom promises.
For instance, what are cadidates for office in Caddo and Natchitoches doing taking contributions from Dolphin Marine International (owned by John Georges?) which is located south of New Orleans.
Also what business is being conducted by Morris Dickson, a Shreveport based Pharmaceutical sales firm that makes them so interested in the outcomes of elections in Rapides, Avoyelles, Vernon, Jefferson and other (definitely not Shreveport) parishes? If these guys are elected I would imagine Dickson is going to see a sudden increase in business…not sure how, but it’s certainly not going to be because drug costs are going down for the non-contributing voters.
I didn’t support Bobby Jindall, and I think he had some of the most corrupt financing in the race, but I sure hope he delivers on his promise of Ethics reform and transparency…and if he does, these guys better make sure they buy enough legislators to keep the books hidden for a long time.
Drew,
You are exactly right. What I see in these tables are backroom deals involving career politicians such as David Vitter, Mitch Theriot and LaLaLaLonde and coordinated exchanges of large amounts of revenue. And it is troubling that candidates are accepting large sums from corporations and individuals located outside of their legislative districts. To me it is a sign of who these 11 Republicans will represent. And no, it will not be the citizens of their district.
To quote Canizaro, who offered the following statement after it was discovered that he was one of Bush’s largest donors in 2000:
“You have to participate in government if you want to get something out of it.”
This quote can be found in my “Embarrassment of Riches Diary.” Now the question we must ask these 11 is this: what do they intend to give Canizaro now that he has participated so heavily in their campaigns’ financing?
The reach of the LCRM goes beyond the House of Representatives. I’ve noticed that some of your reports have shown that the LCRM and their minions did all of Gerald Long’s dirty work in his campaign against Taylor Townsend. I think you’ll find that Jimmy Burland, Lee Fletcher and John Diez have also played a large roll in the Neil Riser campaign. I’d be interested to see you connect all of those dots.