Subject: [big campaign] Breaking: Texas Prosecutors Open Criminal Investigation into Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas
From: Aniello Alioto <[email-masked]>
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:24:49 -0500
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

You're one of the first people to know about this (spread the word)!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Phillip Martin" <[email-masked]>
Date: Dec 12, 2012 1:52 PM
Subject: Texas Prosecutors Open Criminal Investigation into Cancer
Prevention Research Institute of Texas
To: "Aniello Alioto" <[email-masked]>, "Matt Glazer" <
[email-masked]>
Cc:

Aniello,

The Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is under criminal
investigation for misdirecting taxpayer funds intended for cancer research
to a company without the required review process, and whose chief investor
gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Texas Governor Rick Perry and
other major statewide elected officials. Below is a summary of the scandal,
links to read more, our petition calling for an end to Perry's corporate
gifts programs<https://secure3.convio.net/pn/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3033>,
and the press release sent out from the Progress Texas PAC -- who initially
called for the criminal investigation -- for further review.

All the best,

--Phillip Martin
Political Director, Progress Texas

*OVERVIEW OF CPRIT SCANDAL*

In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law calling on the state of Texas
to create the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Backed
with $3 billion in taxpayer-approved bonds, CPRIT is the second-largest
distributor of cancer research funding in the country. Yet a series of
investigative reports by the *Dallas Morning News* and *Houston Chronicle* have
shown that Texas Governor Rick Perry and Lieutenant Governor David
Dewhurst's  CPRIT appointees have directed taxpayer funds to Perry &
Dewhurst donors. In the process, CPRIT ignored required scientific review
and grant approval processes, which led to Nobel laureates and many of the
CPRIT scientists - including the chief scientific adviser - resigning. Just
this week the Executive Director of CPRIT resigned.

The biggest bombshell broke when it was discovered that an $11 million
grant from CPRIT was awarded without review to a company whose top donor,
Peter O'Donnell, has contributed over $579,000 to Perry, Dewhurst, and
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Abbott is a potential successor to
Governor Perry and has announced his office will investigate CPRIT, even
though Abbott sits on CPRIT's oversight agency. The donor, O'Donnell, also
contributed $1.6 million to CPRIT's Foundation from 2009 to 2011, which
supplements the staff salaries of CPRIT's key decision makers.

Weeks ago, as stories of the controversy first broke, Progress Texas PAC
called for an independent investigation by the Texas Public Integrity Unit
into the mismanagement of funds at CPRIT. Yesterday, the Public Integrity
Unit announced they will be investigation the situation, creating an
independent examination into the CPRIT controversy. Additionally, Progress
Texas has launched a petition calling for an end to Perry's "Corporate
Gifts" funds, including CPRIT, which has gathered over 4,500 signatures to
date.

*PRESS ATTENTION & PETITION ACTION*

In the last two weeks, dozens of daily stories in the scandal have broken,
many of them quoting or shaped by the work of the Progress Texas PAC. Below
are links to a few of the major stories in recent weeks, along with several
summary pieces that encapsulate the totality of the scandal and a link to
our petition:

   - *Dallas Morning News* - "Texas cancer-fighting agency gave Dallas firm
   $11 million without required
review<http://www.dallasnews.com/investigations/headlines/20121129-texas-cancer-agency-gave-dallas-firm-11-million-without-required-review.ece>
   "
   - *Austin American-Statesman -* "Texas cancer agency OK’d $11 million
   grant without
review<http://progresstexas.pnstate.org/site/R?i=3MprzeRmY0nI7pqGD3ZtTw>
   "
   - *Texas Tribune - "Investigations of CPRIT's Grants Process Are
Pushed<http://progresstexas.pnstate.org/site/R?i=luyBOf23X_lezF4vE9ykiw>
   "*
   - *Austin American-Statesman -* "Travis DA investigating cancer-fighting
   agency<http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/travis-da-investigating-cancer-fighting-agency/nTSZG/>
   "
   - *Houston Chronicle -* "Cancer agency received funds from investor in
   firm awarded
grant<http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Cancer-agency-received-funds-from-investor-in-4109931.php#ixzz2ErBlP7IQ>
   "
   - *Dallas Morning News* - "CPRIT's executive director
resigns<http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2012/12/cprits-executive-director-resigns.html/>
   "

   - FireDogLake - "Of Cancer and Crony Capitalism in
Texas<http://firedoglake.com/2012/12/09/of-cancer-and-crony-capitalism/>
   "
   - Progress Texas - "Perry's Cancer Prevention Research Institute Comes
   Under Continued
Scrutiny<http://progresstexas.org/blog/perrys-cancer-prevention-research-institute-comes-under-continued-controversy>
   "
   - Progress Texas PAC - "Cancer
Cronyism<http://progresstexaspac.org/blog/cancer-cronyism>
   "

   - PETITION - "End Perry's Corporate
Gifts<https://secure3.convio.net/pn/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3033>
   "

Finally, a press release sent out today from the PAC is attached and pasted
below. Glenn Smith, Director of Progress Texas PAC, is available for any
interviews or comments about the CPRIT scandal. His contact information is
below.

FOR RELEASE - December 12, 2012

CONTACT: Glenn Smith @ 512.296.6282 or [email-masked]

*Texas Prosecutors Open Criminal Investigation into Cancer Prevention
Research Institute of Texas
**“It is a growing scandal that could forever change Texas politics”*

(TEXAS) – Republican Gov. Rick Perry and his cronies in and out of public
office have diverted funds intended for cutting-edge cancer research into
the campaign pockets of Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Proceeds from
millions in taxpayer-backed bonds awarded by the Cancer Prevention Research
Institute of Texas (CPRIT) have been misappropriated and misused to
institute a policy of political payback instead of working in the best
interest of Texans and science.

*"It's essential that any destruction of evidence and other obstructions to
the investigation be halted*," said Glenn Smith the Director of the
Progress Texas PAC.

Acting on a complaint filed by Progress Texas PAC, Texas prosecutors in
Austin on Tuesday opened a criminal investigation. Smith praised the action
and said, "An immediate, independent investigation is absolutely necessary."

Smith added, "It is a growing scandal that could forever change Texas
politics. As national political players look toward turning red Texas blue,
something that would put the Electoral College out of Republicans’ reach
for years, many see the scandal as the beginning of the end of GOP
dominance in Texas."

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "big campaign" group.

To post to this group, send to [email-masked]

To unsubscribe, send email to [email-masked]

E-mail [email-masked] with questions or concerns
 
This is a list of individuals. It is not affiliated with any group or organization.