Bucking a national trend, Texas-based corporations have remained loyal to Republican congressional candidates in the 2008 campaign.
According to a Houston Chronicle analysis of Federal Election Committee data, the 46 Texas companies that are included in the Fortune 500 gave 73 percent of their political action committee contributions to Republican House and Senate candidates in Texas, while donating just 27 percent to Lone Star Democrats in the first nine months of 2007. [...]
"There are more Democrats now, and more are in positions of leadership," explained Jim Greenwood, vice president for governmental affairs at heavily Republican Valero Energy Corp. San Antonio-based Valero has shifted its PAC contributions from 9 percent Democratic in the 2005-2006 election cycle to 23 percent this year.
The cash flow toward Capitol Hill Democrats is far more pronounced among businesses in the other 49 states. In the months since Democrats gained control of Congress in January, the 50 biggest American industries have given 57 percent of their contributions to Democrats, according to a Nov. 15 analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. [...]
Analysts said Texas businesses are more likely to stick with Republicans because Lone Star State businesses tend to be more ideologically conservative than corporations in other states.
Texas companies also are heavily concentrated in the energy sector, which has remained staunchly Republican even in the new period of Democratic control of Capitol Hill.
Come 2008, all the GOP geniuses of Texas will be relieved from their positions on the national stage. Look at the bright side, energy execs — at least you will have more time for your ingenious daddy-daughter abstinence programs.
