DeLay PACs Hired His Daughter as Consultant
"Karl Gallant, who heads RMIC and has recently been running a series of television ads aimed at bolstering support for the nomination of Attorney General-designate John D. Ashcroft, said he retained Ferro to help arrange a Houston fund raiser at which her father (Senator Delay)was the featured speaker".
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 31, 2001 ; Page A07
Political action committees affiliated with House Majority Whip Tom Delay (R-Tex).
paid his daughter, Dani Ferro, nearly $60,000 in consulting fees during the second
half of last year, according to recently released financial disclosure reports.
The reports showed payments to Ferro from her father's leadership political action committee --
Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC) -- and an independent group affiliated with him, the Republican Majority Issues Committee (RMIC).
DeLay's former chief of staff, Ed Buckham, received nearly the identical amount from ARMPAC
during that same period.
The expenditures were reported under the requirements of a new law requiring disclosure
of the operations of what are known as 527 groups
Until last year, these groups, which engage in political activities, did not have to report their income or spending.
Ferro has run her father's reelection campaigns for several years, but only recently set up her own consulting business, Coastal Consulting. It is unclear whether Coastal Consulting has any clients who are not linked to DeLay. Ferro is also working as a consultant for her father's campaign committee.
Ferro was on vacation this week and was not available to comment.
Karl Gallant, who heads RMIC and has recently been running a series of television ads
aimed at bolstering support for the nomination of Attorney General-designate John D. Ashcroft,
said he retained Ferro to help arrange a Houston fund raiser at which her father was the featured speaker.
"I know her and I trust her," Gallant said, adding that Ferro "helped plug me into donors. If Tom can help me fundraise, Dani sure can."
© 2001 The Washington Post
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