Wednesday, February 21, 2018

WHEN YOU GO VOTE IN PRIMARY, REMEMBER THAT OUT OF 109 CONTRIBUTORS TO OLIVEIRA, ONLY 3 FROM THE DISTRICT

By Juan Montoya

When the Texas House of Representatives District 37 incumbent reported his campaign contributions and expenditures that covered the period from June 1 through December 31, 2017, there were 69 contributors.

Rene Oliveira – now in his 34th year in office – reported that the total in contributions he received was $126,107.70.

Sixty one of the 69 contributions, 49 were from Political Action Committees, 12 were from lobbyists, four were from lawyers (tax collections and political consultants), and only five were from Brownsville, including two from his law firm Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, LLP, one from a firefighters' PAC and two from individuals (Ernesto de Leon Sr. and Dr. Asim Zamir, 7.2 percent).


Eighty-four percent  came from either PACs (from Texas and out-of-state) or lobbyists. Only two individuals (De Leon and Zamir) live in Brownsville. (2.9 percent). It's intriguing to note that Oliveira got $30,000 ($5,000 first, later $25,000) from the TREPAC/TX Association of Realtors PAC, Austin.The state rep is in Austin to do their bidding. 

He lists expenditures of 167,756.58 and has 29,640.38 on hand. Below, by alphabetical order, is the full list of Oliveira's contributors. So who do you think he'll listen to?

1. AT&T Texas PAC, Austin, $2,500 
2. American Electric Power Co - Texas - Comm. Resp. Gov PAC, Austin, $1,000
3. Barrett, Daffin, Frappier, Turner & Engel, LLP, Austin: $2,500
4. Beer Alliance of Texas PAC, Austin: $500 
5. Blackridge, (Lobbyists) Austin: $1,000
6. Blackridge, (Lobbyists) Austin: $1,000
7. Bond, Tom (Lobbyist), Georgetown: $1,000
8. Brownsville Firefighters Association, Local 970, PAC, Brownsville: $500
9. Castaneda, Jr. , Tristan (Lobbyist), Austin: $350 
10. CenterPoint Energy, Inc PAC, Houston: $1,500
11. Charter Communications, Inc.Texas PAC, Austin: $1,500
12. Comcast Corporation PAC & NBC Universal PAC, Philadelphia, Pa.: $2,500
13. Congress Avenue Partners, Austin (Public Relations): $1,250
14. De Leon, Ernesto, Brownsville: $50
15. ENPAC Texas (Entergy), Austin: $1,000
16 Eli Lilly and Co PAC, Indianapolis, In.: $500
17. Enbridge (USA) Inc. PAC, Houston: $500
18. Energy Leaders PAC of Vistra Energy, Irvin: $2,500
19. Excelon PAC, Washinton, D.C., $2,500
20. Farmers Employee & Agent PAC of TX, Austin: $5,000 
21. Focused Advocacy PAC, Austin: $2,500
22. Garcia , Joe (Lobbyist), Austin: $500 
23. Greenberg Traurig, P.A. PAC, Albany, N.Y.: $2,000
24. Hardy, Richard, (Lobbyist) Austin: $1,000
25. HillCo PAC, Austin: $1,000
26. HomePAC of Texas (Texas Assoc. of Builders), Austin: $1,500
27. INDEPAC, Austin: $2,500
28. Landry's Restaurants, PAC, Houston: $1,000
29. Laredo Fire PAC, Laredo: $1,000
30. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP (Delinquent tax collectors), Austin: $2,500
31. Long, Wade (Lobbyist), Austin: $250
32. Longbow Consulting Partners LLC, (Lobbyists) Austin: $500
33. McGuire Woods Federal PAC Fund, Richmond, Va.: $250
34. McLane Company, Inc. PAC, Temple: $3,500
35. NRG Energy PAC, Princeton, N.J.: $1,000
36. Oncor Texas State PAC, Dallas, $2,500
37. P. John Kuhl, Jr., P.C, (Lobbyist) Houston: $1,000
38. PAC of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, Austin: $500 
39. Prudential Financial Inc., State & Federal PAC, Newark, N.J.: $500
40. Ramirez, Rene, (Lobbyist), McAllen: $500
41. Raytheon PAC, Arlington, Va.: $750
42. Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, LLP, Brownsville: $500
43. Roerig, Oliveira & Fisher, LLP, Brownsville: $500
44. Rural Friends of Electric Cooperatives PAC, Austin: $2,500
45. Southwest Airlines Co. Freedom PAC, Dallas: $1,000
46: TAPTP PAC (Property Tax Professionals), Helotes: $500
47. TBA Bank PAC - State, Austin: $1,500
48. TEXPAC (Texas Medical Assocation PAC), Austin: $1,000
49. TREPAC/TX Association of Realtors PAC, Austin: $5,000
50. TREPAC/TX Association of Realtors PAC, Austin: $25,000
51. Tenaska Employees Texas PAC, Omaha, Nebraska: $1,500
52. Tenet Healthcare Corp. PAC, Dallas: $250
53. Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, Austin: $2,500
54. Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, Austin: $1,500
55. Texas Agricultural Aviation Association-Air PAC, Austin: $500
56. Texas Alliance Oil & Gas PAC, Wichita Fallas: $400
57. Texas Building Branch AGC PAC, Austin: $2,000
58. Texas Mortgage Bankers PAC, Austin: $3,000
59. Texas Taxi PAC, Austin: $750
60. Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC, Austin: $2,500
61. The Storage Place, Austin: $1,500
62. Toomey, Michael (Lobbyist), Austin: $1,000
63. UPSPAC, Atlanta, Ga.: $1,000
64. USAA Employee PAC, San Antonio: $3,000
65. Undavia, Khyati (Pharmacist), Houston: $4,500
66. Union Pacific Corp. Fund for Effective Government PAC, Washington, D.C.: $1,500
67. United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 455, PAC, Washington, D.C. : $1,000
68. Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas PAC, Austin: $1,000
69. Zamir, Asim (Physician), Brownsville: $500


The report due 30 days before the election covering January 1 through January 25, 2018 filed February 5 is not much different. Out of 39 contributors, only two were from individuals and only one is from District 37, in Brownsville. The rest were from PACs and lobbyists. 

In that report, Oliveira lists $36,056.50 in contribution from the following:
1. ACT for Texas Classroom Teachers Assoc. (PAC), Austin, $1,000
2. Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP, Houston, $1,000
3. American Insurance Association PAC, Washington, D.C., $1,000
4. Association of Texas Professional Educators PAC, Austin, $1,000
5. Blackridge, Austin, $750
6. Campbell, Grover, Texas Ass. of School Boards, Director of Governmental Relations, $100
7. HOSPAC-State (Texas Hospitality Assoc.), Austin, $1,000
8. HomePAC of Texas (Texas Assoc. of Builders), Austin, $1,000
9. Jackson Walker LLP PAC, Dallas, $1,000
10. Kamm, Robert, Lobbyist, Austin, $250
11. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, delinquent property tax collectors, Austin, $2,500
12. PAC of Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, Austin, $1,000
13. Plitt III , Walter, Brownsville, Plitt Crane & Rigging International service, $100
14. Roberts, Jack, Lobbyist, Austin, $1,000
15. Rodriguez, Marc, Lobbyist, Austin, $500
16. Romano, Dubravka, Tex. Ass. of School Boards, $250
17. Schmar, Peter, Juniper MLP, Investment Counselors, $250
18. TEXPAC Texas Medical Association PAC, Austin, $1,500
19. TEXPAC Texas Medical Association PAC, Austin, $2,500
20. TRUCKPAC PAC of Texas Trucking Industry, Austin, $500
21. Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, Austin, $500
22. Texas American Federation of Teachers, Austin, $1,000
23. Texas Apartment Association, Austin, $2,000
24. Texas Automobile Dealers Association, Austin, $1,000
25. Texas Lobby Group, Austin, $1,000
26. Texas State Teachers Association PAC, Houston, $1,000
37. Undavia, Khyati, Pharmacist, $5,000
38. Union Pacific Corp. Fund for Effective Government, Washington, D.C., $500
39. Van De Putte, Henry & Leticia, San Antonio, Lobbyist, $500

So out of 108 contributors from June 2017 to January 25, 2018, only three are from individuals living in his Brownsville district. The rest are from industry and special interest PACs and lobbyists.

Just who does Oliveira represent?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

The list of campaign contributors to Rene Oliviera shows that his vote is for sale. For 34 years he has given his attention to these special interests and NOT the interests of the citizens of his district. He spends more time drinking at Cobbleheads and other places than supporting the people of this area. He is a public embarrassment. He needs to be replaced.

My vote is going to Alex Dominguez, who has proven to be a public servant. He has given more to the community in four years than Rene in 34 years.

Anonymous said...

So what? You are naïve, bro!

Anonymous said...

What's your wish? That someday it is Dominguez getting these contributions. You are SO dumb, Montoya!

Anonymous said...

Ren'e The black Mamba Oliviera represents himself, the people in Austin are making sure that he keeps to hos word and stays away from their wives and girlfriend. When they find out the truth, it will be to late as he has no honor only to his. Cocaine habit.

Anonymous said...

It's like the cartel Juan, one leader gets taken down, another one is replaced and the corruption continues. It's worst in Washington DC

Anonymous said...

Enough is enough, I will vote for his opposition. There is nothing to fear with the unknown in regards to his challenger (Dominguez). However, we should be fearful of the present and past 34 years of NOTHING. CHANGE IS NEEDED. How this sell-out of a man turned an elected position into a career is ridiculous. DOMINGUEZ, you have my vote because your last name isnt Oliveira.

HL

Anonymous said...

Rene should wear a "For Sale " sign around his neck, oh he already does, oh well, im voting for alex.

Anonymous said...

When you have had something for 34 years and it doesn't work anymore....you either replace it or you throw it away. Rene Oliviera is such a "thing". He has not served this community for 34 years and his vote in Austin is surely for sale to the highest bidder. Rene is not a real public figure here, unless you frequent bars. Rene is a womanizer and a wino. With the help of a former city commissioner he evaded the law when he, driving a car without insurance, rear-ended a lady on the Frontage Road between Cheddars (where he had been drinking) and the city visitor's center. He ran back to Cheddars and the city commissioner (Melissa Zamora) convinced the police not to issue a ticket to Oliviera. He skated and lawyers in this area were not willing to take on the ladies case against Oliviera....so he is skated on the ticket and paying for the damage. Oliviera is an self-serving asshole and should not be allowed to hold public office. BUT, HERE THE PEOPLE DON'T JUST ACCEPT CORRUPTION AND SELF-SERVING OFFICIALS, BUT THEY DEMAND AND ELECT OFFICIALS WHO ARE CORRUPT AND SELF SERVING.

Anonymous said...

I don't see and hear what domingez is going to do. Does he have a plan or his plan is to insult. Is that what he's going to do in office. Insult everybody, because he has no agenda no plan. Why would I vote for somebody that all he does is insult, insult and insult. Insulting people is a form of corruption. Both are the same. One doesn't do anything for his constituents and the other insults people. I for one will vote for the one that is NOT corrupt. So please continue with your insults so more people will NOT vote for the two corrupt candidates.

Anonymous said...

When you go vote just remember these words LNG-Do Nothing. Then you know who to vote for.

Anonymous said...


Domingez voted to bring LNG (Liquefied natural gas) to the port of Brownsville.

natural gas vapors are flammable and present safety hazards is often regarded as extremely dangerous and toxic with container ships called floating bombs. blast this week at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in rural Washington state, which injured workers, forced an evacuation and raised alarm about a potentially large second explosion, could focus attention on the risk of storing massive gas supplies near population centers. Want more reasons to vote for domingez?

Copy from: ENVIRONMENTAPRIL 6, 2014 / 6:16 AM / 4 YEARS AGO
Blast at U.S. LNG site casts spotlight on natural gas safety
Joshua Schneyer, Timothy Gardner, Richard Valdmani

Anonymous said...

If only Dominguez hadn't sold out to LNG. Can't complain about politicians selling out, when you gave millions away to the filthy gas refinery, to poison little kids in Port Isabel! WTF.

joe kidd said...

Term Limits is what we need to stop these politicians from staying on way too long, al all levels city, state and federal offices,

Anonymous said...

Up went the warning signs then but nobody done a thing about it. Next he will kill someone and everyone will say, WE DIDN'T KNOW.

Anonymous said...

SLUG! BELCH! FART! LUSH!
I SPIT ON HIS POLITICAL MAILER EVERY DAY! RENE OLIVEIRA IS SELLOUT! VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE!

Anonymous said...

Sneaky Pete the deputy dog (been there 50 years)will block the release of any report. Term limits and employment longevity limits.

Anonymous said...

34 years and 50 years just too long to be employed or elected to office. You can see the results "do nothing and hide everything", just not acceptable.

rita