James R. Leininger

Dr. James R. Leininger, "San Antonio physician and hospital-bed magnate" is a "conservative and devoutly religious Republican businessman." Leininger is one of the biggest funders of conservative causes in Texas. During the decade 1987-1997, Leininger "spent more than $1.4 million of his personal fortune to affect how Texans vote and another $3.2 million to change how Texans think on political issues such as tort reform and private school vouchers." [1][2]

Organizations Founded by Leininger

• Committee for Governmental Integrity, a PAC
• Entertainment PAC
• Texans for Governmental Integrity, a PAC
• Texans for Judicial Integrity, a PAC
• Texans for Justice, "a political action committee (PAC) that advocates for tort reform (with limits on the awards consumers may receive from companies in liability suits)."
• Texas Justice Foundation, "a Texas Public Policy Foundation spin-off, advances a conservative agenda through the courts."
• Texas Public Policy Foundation, in 1989, "using the Heritage Foundation as a model for a conservative 'think tank'."

Organizations Funded by Leininger

• American Family Association
• Christian Pro-Life Foundation
• Family Research Council
• Focus on the Family
• FreePAC
• Heidi Group
• Institute for Basic Life Principles
• Republican National Coalition for Life PAC
• San Antonio Christian Pro Life
• The Justice Foundation

Business Affiliations

• The Beginner's Bible, "holds the trademark license" and to "its supplemental coloring books for children."
• Focus Direct, Owner; "a direct mail company hired by conservative Republican candidates statewide – often with money Leininger has donated to them"; "Clients include Delta Airlines, Ralston-Purina, the Texas Republican Party, Oregon Public Radio, and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)/Klan Watch, an Alabama-based nonprofit that monitors far-right, potentially violent groups."
• Home Court America, Part owner; "San Antonio basketball and gymnasium facility located in the northwest suburbs."
• Kinetic Concepts International (KCI), Third owner; "medical bed and supply company" sold and no longer publicly-held.
• Mission City Food Co., Co-owner; "a parent company of Promised Land Dairy and other food-processing groups such as Sunday House smoked turkey."
• Mission City Properties, Owner; "a San Antonio-based commercial real estate company. He houses many of his political action committees and other groups in these properties."
• Mission City Television, "San Antonio company produces videotapes for commercials and other TV formats."
• The Spurs, "Leininger holds an estimated 10% interest in the San Antonio basketball team."
• Sunday House, Co-owner; "Fredericksburg company that makes and markets smoked turkeys."
• TXN, started and/or financed "the failed 'The News of Texas', a 24-hour Texas news cable network."
• Whole Foods private label milk.
• Winning Strategies, controlling interest; "a political consulting company with a client list that includes the Christian Coalition."

Sources: [3][4]

SourceWatch Resources

• Bush's Rangers
• George W. Bush
• Religious Right
• soft money

External links

• Louis Dubose, "Caveat Emptor. Is Texas' right-wing benefactor getting what he pays for?," The Bush Files, undated.
• Robert Bryce, "The Pols He Bought. Meet the man who elected the Bush Administration," The Bush Files, undated.
• Debbie Nathan, "Wallet and Spirit. Leininger Contributes to Conservative Causes With Money and Prayer," Austin Chronicle Vol. 18, Issue 22; and "Leininger's Many Holdings."
• R.G. Ratcliffe, "James Leininger. Paymaster of the Radical Republican Religious Right in Texas," Houston Chronicle, September 21, 1997: "Businessman invests capital in his causes. Leininger's millions helped conservatives make gains."
• "Religious Right Watch. Dr. James Leininger: Money Man of the Religious Right," Texas Freedom Network, undated (about 1998).
• Karen Olsson, "Mr. Right. Can you name the most influential Republican in Texas? It's not Rick Perry or any other elected official. It's James Leninger, a little-known San Antonio physician whose ideology and millions are pushing the GOP to be more conservative than ever," Texas Monthly, November 2002.
• Kathryn Wallace, "Politics, Texas Style: Big Donors with Big Interests. Bush's Little-Known Texas Patron," Tom Paine.Common Sense, May 7, 2004.
• Profile on Texas Freedom Network website