Paul Foster never stopped giving Abbott money

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

We were looking at Governor Abbott's recent campaign finance data this morning.  To be honest, we were looking for something else that might or might not be there.  Further investigation required.

However, in perusing Governor Abbbott's top donors for this cycle, we saw something that's very interesting if you know the history:

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For those who don't know of him, Paul Foster is a former chairman of the UT Board of Regents. What makes this interesting, however, is that Greg Abbott forced Foster out as Chairman in 2017. At the time, we suspected it was due to steps Foster had been taking to undermine Abbott's legislative agenda.

Apparently, however, Abbott only holds a grudge until it's time to cash a check.

According to state records, Paul Foster has made the following donations to Greg Abbott since his board ouster:

• 6/30/18 -- $250k to "Texans for Greg Abbott."

• 6/29/19 -- $100k to "Texans for Greg Abbott."

• 8/14/19 -- $41,861 to "Texans for Greg Abbott" for "plane expenses."
  
  
• Note: Must be nice.

• 6/30/20 -- $250k to "Texans for Greg Abbott."

Bottom Line: None of this is really surprising, but it's still a highly revealing window into Abbottworld.

So THAT's why the UT Board got a new chair last September....

"Let him that stole, steal no more: but let him rather labor, and work with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give unto him that needeth."
Ephesians 4:28

Associated "Republicans" of Texas is a longstanding Rino entity with close ties to the Bushes.  In recent years, it's become a key cog in Joe Straus' machine.  Buried deep in an article about their activities this election cycle, however, we noticed something interesting:

And two El Paso businessmen — ART board member Woody Hunt and Paul Foster, vice chairman of the University of Texas System Board of Regents — have also dumped in $450,000 and $250,000 since July, respectively.

But there's one detail the article missed: Paul Foster used to be the Chairman of the UT Board.

As the article discusses, ART's activities this cycle started to heat up in September, which got us thinking about another story from last September:

Tucker appointed Board of Regents chairman

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

AUSTIN—Regent Sara Martinez Tucker, appointed in 2015 by Governor Greg Abbott to a six-year term on The University of Texas System Board of Regents, was unanimously elected chairman of the board at a special called meeting Monday.

Tucker was nominated by Chairman Paul Foster, and the motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Steve Hicks. “It has been an immense honor to serve as chairman of the board these last four years, but it was time to pass the gavel to a new leader,” Foster said. “It was a pleasure to nominate Regent Tucker, who has brought great insight and guidance to the Board over the last two years. The UT System and all of its institutions are going to benefit greatly under her very capable leadership.”

As we noted at the time, the whole thing seemed strange.

Now we know why.

It also explains this story from December.

The best part: Foster's term is up this January, and there's zero chance Abbott re-appoints him after a stunt like this.

Bottom Line: Say what you will about Greg Abbott, but he does not take personal disloyalty lightly (and, in this case, that worked out for the best)....

UT Regents rubber stamp almost $400 MILLION in new debt

"There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it."
Proverbs 21:20

Some of these projects are probably worthwhile, but the overall package is ridiculous:

Regents approve PUF proceeds for capital projects, including first-of-its-kind collaboration 

AUSTIN—The University of Texas System Board of Regents today approved $392.2 million from Permanent University Fund bonds as a source of funding for nine capital projects at UT academic and health institutions. 

This year’s provision included a new approach by Regents – cross-institutional facilities funding for a first-of-its-kind collaboration, an example of Chancellor William H. McRaven’s charge to UT System institutions to break down silos, operate as a “team of teams” and leverage the System’s collective size, talent and scale to attack challenging issues facing our world today. 

At the Chancellor’s recommendation, Regents approved $45 million in PUF bonds for a cancer collaboration among UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, UT Health Northeast, UT Medical Branch in Galveston and UT Austin’s Dell Medical School. The funds will be divided roughly equally among the five institutions, targeting the most critical capital needs in each setting. The money may be used to renovate existing facilities or build new facilities. It could also be directed toward the purchase of equipment and information systems, including systems that would enable digital health services such as telepathology and teleradiology.  

.... 

 The bulk of the total — $347.2 million — is earmarked as a source of funding for several new important facilities at UT academic and health institutions that will provide the opportunity for world-class research, teaching and clinical care for Texas and beyond.

Read the whole thing, including the full list of expenditures, here.

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While we're on the subject, check out this gem they discussed in the executive session:

U. T. El Paso: Discussion and appropriate action regarding the purchase of approximately 458 acres of land out of the J. Baker Survey #10 and the I. F. Harrison Survey #54, located on Paisano Drive and Interstate Highway 10 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, commonly known as the former ASARCO smelter site, from ASARCO Texas Custodial Trust, for future programmed campus expansion.

And what, pray tell is the "former ASARCO smelter site"?!?

University of Texas System officials are in negotiations to possibly purchase the former Asarco copper-smelter site in West Central El Paso for expansion of the UTEP campus, Asarco site trustee Roberto Puga said.

The environmental cleanup of the site is nearing completion.

....

The smelter site has restrictions and obligations that the buyer will have to meet, Puga has said. One of the biggest obligations is for the buyer to preserve and monitor a 5-acre landfill where hazardous waste is buried, he has said.

No residences can be built on the 210-acre smelter site. But commercial buildings, classrooms and stadiums could be built there, he has said.

No price for the land has been publicly disclosed.

Separate press report makes another good point:

The Board of Regents is chaired by El Paso businessman and philanthropist Paul Foster.

So they, literally, intend to spend tens of millions of dollars to purchase a toxic waste dump; read the the whole thing here and here.