Panel: DeLay's golf outing for energy executives looked improper

"At a minimum, his (DeLay's) conduct created at least the appearance that donors were being provided with special access to Representative DeLay regarding the then-pending energy legislation," the bipartisan committee said.

"Representative DeLay was in a position to significantly influence the conference, both as a member of the House leadership and, by action taken about a week and a half after the fund-raiser, his appointment as one of the conferees."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/2836773

On April 23, 2002, lobbyist Richard Bornemann wrote a memo laying out a long-term plan by which Kansas-based Westar Energy Inc. could gain influence in Washington by "joining the fold, so to speak," of then House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.). Over the next several months, Westar contributed $25,000 to a Texas political fund affiliated with DeLay, and Westar employees donated $33,200 to various congressional campaign committees, including those of DeLay and senior House GOP members in charge of energy legislation.

Westar executives then used their newfound access -- which included an invitation to a golfing and fundraising event at a West Virginia resort -- to press DeLay and his aides to add to a pending energy bill a provision that Westar considered vital to a corporate restructuring plan. The provision was included, despite the objections of officials at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16138-2004Oct7.html

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is criticized for conduct that apparently linked political donations to legislation. DeLay has been accused of unfairly using his wide influence to help his party. The rebuke from the House ethics committee is the second for the Texas Republican in just six days.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4074729