Published: October 07, 2009 12:28 pm      

Hutchison says political contributions too large

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has received huge contributions in her race for governor, says she wants limits on the size of campaign donations in Texas, where enormous cash gifts are commonplace.



Hutchison has received at least six donations of $100,000 and 21 contributions of $50,000, records show. All told, donors giving her at least $10,000 or more contributed more than $3.3 million to her campaign in 2009. She also is scheduled to hold an Oct. 12 fundraiser in Austin and is asking would-be attendants to join the "KBH Club" by giving her $100,000.

A "trailblazer" membership can be had for $10,000.

The senator, who is challenging Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican primary, called for limiting the size of donations Monday during a brief campaign stop in Waco, according to video gathered by the online news site Texas Tribune. Perry opposes donation limits and has taken six-figure contributions himself.

Hutchison spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said Hutchison wants to clean up Austin politics with term limits and campaign donation limits. In the meantime, she said the senator shouldn't be expected to unilaterally disarm on the campaign donation front.

"The current law is there is no limit," Baker said. "There has to be a level playing field. If Rick Perry is not limiting what he takes, she can't limit what she takes."

Hutchison didn't specify what the proposed new restrictions should be.

"We need some campaign contribution limits. I think it is time we start looking at our governance and making sure it is the people who count in our state, rather than the Austin insider and lobbyists," Hutchison said.

Texas has no limits on individual donations and six-figure contributions are not rare.

"There shouldn't be the impression that people can buy their way in, for the governor to be able to meet with people," Hutchison said in Waco, where she was picking up an endorsement from the Texas Farm Bureau.

Hutchison did not repeat the remarks about campaign finance limits a few hours later at a campaign stop in Austin. Aides said she would give more details about her proposal for campaign finance limits when she unveils a government reform package in coming weeks.

The Hutchison campaign has repeatedly bashed Perry, the longest serving governor in Texas history, for fostering a culture of "cronyism" and "corruption" during his nine years in office.

Perry spokesman Mark Miner said the governor favors full disclosure of donations — as current law requires — but opposes contribution limits because he said they restrict "free speech and the freedom to get out your message." Miner also criticized Hutchison for proposing restrictions at the same time she's asking for huge donations.

"It's just one more contradiction," Miner said. "Here she is calling for campaign contribution limits and she has a direct mail piece asking for $100,000."