Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2006
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2006 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Author: Dave Michaels, The Dallas Morning News

PERKS OF PUBLIC OFFICE: PRISON FURNITURE A STEAL

Critics Fault Officials' Exclusive Deal With Prisons

AUSTIN - When Sen. Eddie Lucio built his South Texas dream home in 
2003, he chose an unusual place to shop for furniture: Texas prisons. 
For the dining room, inmates fashioned a table with the state seal on 
it, 10 chairs and six bar stools. For a private chapel, they 
constructed four kneelers, 12 chairs, a holy water font and two altar 
chairs. Total cost: $6,319. "I liked the idea of getting things done 
handcrafted and by prisoners," said Mr. Lucio, a Democrat. "That is 
unique. It is a subject of conversation when people come visit me. I 
say, 'I ordered it from our own prisoners here.' "

Mr. Lucio is one of dozens of lawmakers to buy items over the last 
three years from Texas Correctional Industries, a division of the 
state prison system that manufactures, among other things, furniture, 
signs and clothing. It gives inmates a chance to develop a trade or 
skill and saves state agencies money because, with no labor costs, 
items sell for far less than those from private businesses.

And for lawmakers, buying the discounted goods is a perk of office. 
Suzy Woodford, Texas director of Common Cause, a government watchdog 
group, said state lawmakers should have to pay market price if the 
items are for personal use and not available to all Texans.

"Allowing lawmakers to take advantage of not having to pay what they 
would pay at a retail store, and using it strictly for personal use, 
does not look good," Ms. Woodford said.

Rep. Tony Goolsby, a Dallas Republican who is close to Mr. Lucio, 
said there's nothing wrong with personal purchases. Mr. Goolsby has 
an $1,100 replica of a historic desk from the Texas Capitol in his 
apartment in Austin. "We're all born the same way, but we're not 
equal," he said. "Everybody gets perks." State law allows Texas 
Correctional Industries to sell to the public, but a longstanding 
policy of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice limits personal 
sales to lawmakers, department employees and board members. Mr. 
Lucio's order was the largest personal purchase in the last several 
years. DallasNews.com/extra Going beyond license plates Examples of 
items from state prisons Many of his colleagues used campaign funds 
to buy items such as barbecue grills and bedroom furniture at prices 
far below retail.

Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, had a bed frame, a dresser and 
a nightstand refinished in November for $219. Mr. Williams did not 
return phone calls seeking comment.

Nate Crain, whose wife leads the criminal justice department's board, 
placed three orders together worth about $1,000 from Texas 
Correctional Industries in 2004 and 2005. Mr. Crain, a former Dallas 
County Republican Party chairman who is exploring a run for the 
chairmanship of the statewide party, reported in campaign records 
that he bought items as gifts for his volunteers and a Republican 
women's group.

Board Chairman Christina Melton Crain said it was acceptable for her 
to order the items for her husband.

"I am allowed to order them and, as my spouse, he is allowed to pay 
for them," Ms. Crain said.

Mr. Crain said he didn't know whether the gifts, which included 
pillows and duffel bags, were more or less expensive than they would 
be at a retail store. John Benestante, the director of Texas 
Correctional Industries, said his agency could refuse a sale to a 
sanctioned client only if it knew that the customer intended to 
resell the item. The decision to restrict public sales was made 
before he took over the division, Mr. Benestante said. State 
employees and lawmakers accounted for 1 percent of his department's 
sales in 2005, according to agency figures.

Over the years, lawmakers have mostly used the service to outfit 
their statehouse offices or buy gifts such as gavels and flag-boxes 
for constituents. Chairmen of legislative committees often buy Texas 
Correctional Industries' decorative chairs and tables for their 
committee members. Lawmakers often pay for those items with campaign 
funds. In 2004, Rep. Burt Solomons, a Carrollton Republican, paid 
$2,135 for five wet bars for his staff, according to his campaign 
finance report. They were emblazoned with the state seal.

Mr. Solomons said the gift was to thank his staff for their hard 
work. He said it was allowable because he didn't order them for his 
own use. "Let's say I had a restaurant and I bought five for my 
restaurant," he said. "That would be inappropriate."

Mr. Lucio paid for his furniture with personal funds, Mr. Lucio said. 
His purchase allowed inmates to practice their trade, he said. "I 
paid with my own funds and never felt I was violating any rules," Mr. 
Lucio said. "If people want to change that, I can live with it." For 
some lawmakers, the perk extends beyond their tenure. Some 
legislators have ordered items for their former colleagues, who can 
no longer order for themselves.

Rep. Mary Denny, who is retiring after this year, ordered a headboard 
and nightstand for former Rep. Jim Horn in 2004.

"If a legislator can buy it, anybody should be able to buy it," said 
Mr. Horn, who retired from representing his Denton district in 1999. 
Rep. Vicki Truitt, a Southlake Republican, has purchased nine 
barbecue grills and smokers since 2003, according to state records. 
Texas Correctional Industries sold the smokers for $155, and they 
fetched between $900 and $2,000 each in charity auctions for 
hospitals, Meals on Wheels and therapeutic centers, Ms. Truitt said.

Ms. Truitt bought smokers for her husband and sons-in-law, she said, 
paying with personal funds.

Ray Allen, a former legislator from Grand Prairie who resigned last 
month, had inmates build him a gun cabinet in 2003, state records 
show. Along with a table, the order cost $2,089, records show.

And 15 days before he resigned, Mr. Allen ordered a 7-foot bench made 
of cherry wood for $400.

Mr. Goolsby has been Texas Correctional Industries' best legislative 
customer for several years. He spent $12,800 in 2004 and $7,700 in 
2005, according to state records. In 2004, he spent $6,600 on flags 
and flag boxes, his favorite gift for constituents and supporters. 
"People will display it and appreciate it," he said. "Someone is 
going to see it and maybe go vote for me. Everything an elected 
official does is to get re-elected."

[Sidebar]

The Goods

Dallas-area representatives and senators have purchased various items 
from Texas Correctional Industries in 2005 and 2006:

Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie: Custom benches, toy box, coffee 
table, walnut cuff-link boxes, Western-style end tables, gavels, tote 
bags. Total: $3,150

Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth: Park bench, custom sign, engraved 
state seal, sofa table, replica Senate desk. Total: $2,900

Rep. Betty Brown, R-Terrell: Constitutional chairs. Total: $654

Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas: Constitutional chairs. Total: $872

Sen. Robert Deuell, R-Greenville: Leather office chairs. Total: $818

Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth: Flag boxes. Total: $510

Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington: Constitutional chairs. Total: $436

Rep. Tony Goolsby, R-Dallas: Bowls, flags and flag boxes, 
constitutional chairs, replica of a House of Representatives desk, 
pillows, desk chairs, serving trays. Total: $7,700

Rep. Bob Griggs, R-North Richland Hills: Gavels. Total: $176

Rep. Kent Grusendorf, R-Arlington: Constitutional chairs, flag boxes, 
serving trays. Total: $1,114

Rep Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving: Rocking chairs, flag boxes, 
bookends. Total: $525

Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson: Glass cabinets, wooden bench. Total: $2,305

Rep. Jim Jackson, R-Carrollton: Flag boxes. Total: $123

Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson: Keepsake boxes. Total: $390

Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie: Constitutional chairs. Total: $1,574

Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless: Constitutional chairs. Total: $900

Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton: Barbecue grills, constitutional 
chairs, flag boxes, benches, bootjack. Total: $5,139

Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Southlake: Barbecue grills, smokers, 
constitutional chairs. Total: $1,998

Note: Local lawmakers not listed made no purchases in 2005.

SOURCE: Dallas Morning News research
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman