David Dewhurst
Millionaire “Lite” Governor berates and belittles uninsured families, yet failed to complete and file simple business forms.

Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst is among the harshest hardliners insisting that families who qualify for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) must reapply every six months or see their children dropped from the program.  He recently said,"I don't think most people in Texas have a lot of sympathy for someone that can't fill out a two-page application every six months.'' (Dewhurst, Austin American-Statesman, January 25, 2007)

Public records obtained by the Lone Star Project, however, show that David Dewhurst himself has repeatedly failed to complete and file routine forms needed to do business legally in Texas. At least six times, businesses directed by, or connected to, David Dewhurst failed to fill out required forms in a timely fashion. In fact, David Dewhurst Investment Partnership was issued a Notice of Cancellation by the Texas Secretary of State on December 6, 2006, for failing to file a periodic report that is required only once every four years.

Deadbeat Dewhurst Failed to File Basic Business Forms
Documents show that companies owned, controlled or served by David Dewhurst failed to complete required forms in a timely fashion at least six times.

• David Dewhurst Investment Partnership, LTD, was required to file a periodic report "not more than once every four years."  David Dewhurst is listed as the registered agent for the partnership and was sent notification letters on July 5, 2006 and August 7, 2006, informing him of the need to file the form, which includes the preprinted information. (See the letters HERE and HERE) The form was never filed and Dewhurst was issued a Notice of Cancellation of David Dewhurst Investment Partnership, LTD, on December 6, 2006, stating, "It is therefore ordered, as prescribed by Article 6132a, Section 13.08 of the Texas Revised Limited Partnership Act, that the certificate or registration of the above named limited partnership be cancelled without judicial ascertainment."

(See Full Document Here)

• Tamal Acquisition, Inc., was issued a Tax Forfeiture notice on
  February 11, 2000, after it "failed to file a current year franchise tax report."  The Secretary of State ordered that, "the charter or certificate of authority ….is herby forfeited."  David Dewhurst is listed as the Chairman of the Board and Director of Tamal Acquisition, Inc. Tamal Acquisition, Inc., was then forced to file an "Application for Reinstatement and Request to set aside Revocation or Forfeiture" for "failure to file a franchise tax return and/or pay state franchise tax."
• David Dewhurst Investments failed to file franchise tax returns
• "A company owned by David Dewhurst, has failed to file a state franchise tax return, comptroller's office records showed Friday…..David Dewhurst Investments remains in bad standing because it has never filed a franchise tax return since incorporating in 1996, Welch [Comptroller Spokesman] said." (Austin American-Statesman, February 14, 1998)
• Dewhurst failed to disclose his membership on the boards of ten companies on his Texas Ethics Commission personal financial disclosure form.
• "... Mr. Dewhurst described as an 'oversight' the failure to disclose to the Texas Ethics Commission his membership on the board of CalEnergy, an Omaha-based company, and nine other companies and foundations." (The Dallas Morning News, February 26, 1998)
• "Mr. Dewhurst said the listings were inadvertently left off. 'That is a dumb oversight,' Dewhurst said." (The Dallas Morning News, February 26, 1998)
• Trans-Gulf Supply Company, a company Dewhurst was a registered agent with failed to file a state franchise tax return or pay taxes in 1984.
• "A company owned by David Dewhurst, a Republican candidate for land commissioner, has failed to file a state franchise tax return, comptroller's office records showed Friday…Dewhurst paid the back tax and penalties for Trans-Gulf Supply Co., which failed to file a franchise tax return in 1984 and did not pay the minimum $68 tax." (Austin American-Statesman, February 14, 1998)
• Dewhurst was forced to complete additional state required paper work for two other companies, Trans-Gulf Resources and Trans-Gulf Petroleum, to bring them “into compliance with state law.”
• "Welch [a Dewhurst spokesperson] said Dewhurst has brought three companies -- Trans-Gulf Supply, Trans-Gulf Resources and Trans-Gulf Petroleum -- into compliance with state law. The latter two owed no taxes but needed additional paperwork to be completed, he said." (Austin American-Statesman, February 14, 1998)

Deep Pocket Dewhurst Gives Lectures, but no Relief, to Uninsured Families
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst is a multimillionaire serving in a state with more uninsured children than any other in the nation. (The Washington Times, March 14, 2007) Rather than work to cover children in need, Dewhurst is lecturing uninsured families on completing bureaucratic forms.

• "I don't think most people in Texas have a lot of sympathy for someone that can't fill out a two-page application every six months.'' (Dewhurst, Austin American-Statesman, January 25, 2007)
• "I think a lot of people as I travel around the state say, ‘What's so hard about filling out one number on an application every six months?’ he said." (Dewhurst, Texas Politics Blog, Clay Robison, February 28, 2007)
• "We don't want people under welfare if they're driving Cadillacs and they've got trust funds. (Dewhurst, Austin American-Statesman, January 26, 2007)

David Dewhurst is no tough guy politician. In contrast to strong and skillful predecessors like Bob Bullock and Bill Hobby, Dewhurst is a legislative light weight with few policy accomplishments of his own. Instead, Dewhurst usually collapses to the political will of other more strong-willed politicians. Most famously, he broke under pressure from Tom DeLay and Karl Rove to allow the dismantling and weakening of the Texas Congressional Delegation in 2003. In stand-offs with House Speaker Tom Craddick, he typically blinks first then feebly bows to the House. Dewhurst does have an important political asset though – money. The millionaire politician has always been his own biggest contributor giving or loaning his campaigns over $25 million since 1998. Dewhurst's Contributions to his own Campaign Loans Secured by Personal Wealth Personal Donations 1998 $4 million $3 million 2002 $13 million $ 5.6 million (Source: Cox News Service, October 20, 1998; The Dallas Morning News, November 4, 1998; The Dallas Morning News, November 23, 2002; The Dallas Morning News, October 29, 2002)

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Comment by Matt Angle, Lone Star Project Director

"When David Dewhurst makes a mistake, he has millions to fall back on.  But, when CHIP families make a mistake, Dewhurst thinks their kids should lose health insurance."