“The Lone Star Project … hammers Republicans whenever it gets a chance, promoting strong local Democratic candidates and even bringing lawsuits.” (Roll Call, Stuart Rothenberg,
March 12, 2009)
“Anyone who questions whether [The Lone Star Project] can make life difficult for a Republican legislator should talk to former Sen. Kim Brimer.” (Austin American Statesman, February 17, 2009)
“[The Lone Star Project] is responsible for the aggressive stance the party has taken toward DeLay and other Lone Star State Republicans since the 2004 election.” (The Washington Post, March 6, 2006)
"David Dewhurst has said most Texans don't have much sympathy "for someone who that can't fill out a two page [health insurance] application every six months".
The Democrat-supported Lone Star Project in Washington reported this week that Dewhurst failed to file necessary forms at least six times in recent years. (San Antonio Expres News,, 4/12/2007)
"The Justice staff memo was obtained by the Lone Star Project ...The story broke the same day the U.S. Supreme Court was considering legal challenges to the plan brought by Democrats and minority groups." (Houston Chronicle, 12/3/2005)
"The Texas chapter of the NAACP, along with the Lone Star Project, have analyzed the amicus brief filed by the Justice Department and have concluded, justifiably, that the Voting Rights section of the Justice Department is now controlled by partisan political appointees." (Roll Call - Donna Brazile, 2/28/2006)
Brimer Bilks Supporters for Personal Gain … Again LSP research reveals Republican Kim Brimer paid himself over $37,000 in phony campaign loan “repayments”
Brimer has history of using campaign cash for personal use
Campaign finance records show that Republican State Senator Kim Brimer (SD10 – Fort Worth) has again used campaign contributor funds for personal gain. A complete review of Kim Brimer’s campaign finance forms from 1987 to the present shows that Brimer skimmed at least $37,953 from his campaign account for his personal use. The Lone Star Project discovery of Brimer’s improper, and possibly illegal, repayments resulted from an earlier investigation into the Republican Senator’s improper use of campaign cash to purchase a luxury condominium in Austin.
Facts: Phony Loan Scam
Documents filed with the Texas Ethics Commission show that during Brimer’s campaign for the Texas State House in 1987 and 1988, he bilked his campaign for more than $37,000.
Brimer loaned his campaign $46,000 during 1987 and 1988
Brimer family members loaned the Kim Brimer Campaign an additional $10,000
Brimer made a series of payments to himself totaling at least $83,953, reported as “loan repayments,” from 1988 to 1992
As a result, Kim Brimer received at least $37,953 more than the amount he loaned himself.
(Source: Texas Ethics Commission) See Documents Here
Brimer Scandal File Growing This Brimer campaign loan scam comes on the heels of a Lone Star Project report and Fort Worth Star-Telegram article detailing how Kim Brimer used donations to his campaign to make bogus “rent” payments to his wife. The “rent” payments and the profits from the sale of the luxury condo netted Brimer more than $357,000.
Summary of Brimer Phony Loan Scam
Description
Amounts
Kim Brimer Loans
$46,000.00
Repayments of Loans to Kim Brimer
$83,953.00
Excessive Repayments of Loans
$37,953.00
Source: Texas Ethics Commission
Detailed Payment Log
Date
Contributor
Loans
12/10/1987
Kenneth Brimer
$5,000.00
12/29/1987
Kenneth Brimer
$20,000.00
5/11/1988
Woodrow Brimer
$5,000.00
6/17/1988
Kenneth Brimer
$11,000.00
6/27/1988
Kenneth K. Brimer, Sr.
$5,000.00
10/12/1988
Kenneth Brimer
$10,000.00
Subtotal of Brimer Family Loans
$10,000.00
Subtotal of Kim Brimer Loans
$ 46,000.00
Source: Texas Ethics Commission
Date
Payee or Creditor
Purpose of Expenditure
Repayment of loans
6/28/1989
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$4,800.00
8/28/1989
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$4,000.00
10/2/1989
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$3,000.00
11/3/1989
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$2,000.00
10/31/1989
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$1,500.00
1/31/1990
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$4,500.00
11/8/1990
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$ 25,000.00
12/31/1990
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$5,000.00*
3/28/1991
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$3,000.00
8/14/1991
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$4,000.00
9/18/1991
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$1,000.00
3/30/1992
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$10,000.00
4/24/1992
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$4,000.00
6/16/1992
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$3,000.00
8/2/1992
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$5,000.00
12/22/1992
Kenneth Kim Brimer
Payback loan
$4,153.53
Total Repayment to Kim Brimer
$ 83, 953.53
Total Excessive Payments to Kim Brimer
$37,953.00
*$3,800 of this repayment was excessive
Source: Texas Ethics Commission
Excess Payments in Yellow
The Lone Star Project is an activity of the Lone Star Fund.
Contributions to this committee are not tax deductible. Federal law requires political committees to use our best efforts to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. The Lone Star Fund accepts federal contributions from individuals, partnerships, and other federal political committee of up to $5,000 per calendar year.
