In December 1996 Texas Rural Legal Aid (TRLA), which receives nearly $5 million in tax dollars, sued to overturn the election of two Republicans to local office by disqualifying absentee military ballots in a Texas county election. This effort to deny men and women in uniform their right to vote sparked a fire storm of criticism, including a letter signed by 58 U.S. Senators including liberals like Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.).
The law establishing LSC clearly prohibits tax-funded LSC lawyers from engaging in partisan political activity. The case became a major point of contention during Congressional consideration of LSC’s budget. on Capitol Hill, McKay assured key Republicans that he is a “conservative Republican” and promised strong action against TRLA. Instead, months later McKay “fined” TRLA just $7,500, which of course TRLA can pay out of its federal funds. All he could do is fault TRLA for “lax decision making in case acceptance and resource allocation.”
According to NLPC Chairman Ken Boehm, “When push came to shove, McKay caved into the radical legal services ‘community.’ His refusal to stand up to such a blatant abuse of tax money makes him the perfect first inductee to the Hall of Shame.”
EW