
DALLAS, TX, Republican candidate for
Governor of Texas Debra Medina’s gubernatorial campaign today announced that
she would be at the KERA sponsored gubernatorial debate in Dallas, Texas on
January 14. Making the point that KERA is a 501(c)(3) organization, campaign
manager Penny Langford Freeman said that unless Debra Medina is on the debate
stage, KERA would be in violation of the IRS’ restrictions on political
activity.
“On so many levels, the KERA debate reeks of political manipulation,” said
campaign press secretary Nelda Carrizales Skevington. “KERA’s position of
supporting Governor Rick Perry and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison at this debate
while excluding Debra Medina’s participation clearly violates the IRS’
prohibition against political campaign activity. It is obvious KERA is
conducting this Republican primary debate in a partisan manner and with bias,”
she added.
Click here to see the IRS’ Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by
Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations: http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=163395,00.html.
“Clearly we do not have free and open elections here in Texas. It is becoming
obvious KERA is bowing to big federal and state government funding sources. Are
Governor Perry and Senator Hutchison guilty of ignoring apparent IRS
violations? Does that mean they are in collusion with KERA and accessories to
IRS violations? According to the IRS code, citizens are obligated to report the
violations,” added campaign manager Penny Langford Freeman. “Even Mark Miner,
spokesperson for Governor Perry, said, ‘It is like someone having a Christmas
party that you are not invited to’ - they make the decisions.”
“Sounds like KERA, Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison are having a big party
courtesy of the Texas taxpayer but We Texans are not invited,” concluded
candidate Debra Medina.