Tax returns still hidden, but details emerging about millions White made while mayor of Houston: Maybe this is why he is afraid to release his tax returns?

For Immediate Distribution: News Release March 17, 2010

Texans for Rick Perry: (512) 478-3276 Mark Miner: markminer@rickperry.org Catherine Frazier: catherinefrazier@rickperry.org

As the wait for the release of former Houston Mayor Bill White’s tax returns reaches Day 10, the truth about White’s secret side dealings is slowly being revealed.

“As details emerge about the millions of dollars liberal Bill White made from his business dealings, one has to wonder what else he is hiding and why he is afraid to release his income taxes,” said Texans for Rick Perry spokesman Mark Miner. “Today we learned that one of Bill White’s companies is under investigation by Congress. What other companies is Bill White associated with that are under investigation? Where did Bill White make his millions? What business dealings did Bill White have when he was mayor of Houston? Did Bill White give special treatment to companies he was associated with when he was mayor of Houston? The people of Texas deserve answers to these questions. Bill White should come clean and release his taxes.”

The Houston Chronicle today is reporting that since 2003, “White has earned more than $2.6 million serving on the board of a gas well servicing company that now is part of a congressional investigation into possible groundwater contamination.” (SOURCE: “White linked to company facing pollution probe,” Houston Chronicle, 3/17/10, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/691651...)

The Houston Chronicle is also reporting, “After serving as President Bill Clinton's deputy secretary of energy, he formed Frontera, a company that sought to drill for gas and oil in former Soviet states on the Caspian Sea. It didn't do well. White then became president of the Wedge Group, a Houston-based holding company with a wide array of interests. It is owned by Issam Fares, the wealthy former deputy prime minister of Lebanon.” (SOURCE: “Casey: Show us the money, Bill — and David,” Houston Chronicle, 3/17/10, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/casey/...)

###