Rick Perry boosted by mysterious corporate cash
20.05.12
There’s not a lot of public information available on Blackstone Limited, such as a corporate website or public list of directors, but Texas state corporations filings suggest it’s linked to an energy investment firm called Quantum Energy Partners, which was co-founded in 1998 by major Perry donors S. Wil VanLoh Jr. and Toby Neugebauer.
After this story posted, Neugebauer, who is the son of Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), contacted POLITICO to explain that Blackstone is wholly owned by his immediate family. The contribution to Jobs for Iowa was given through Blackstone “based on convenience,” Toby Neugebauer said, and not to conceal the source.
Still, the case of Blackstone and Jobs for Iowa illustrates how tricky it can be to trace the explosion of cash behind the super PAC ads defining the GOP presidential primary. And it’s likely just the tip of the iceberg, since the major super PACs actively backing presidential candidates are taking advantage of loopholes that will allow them to conceal their donors until Jan. 31 — after votes have been cast in the first few critical nominating contests.
Source: Politico