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Accused of "crony capitalism" by Michele Bachmann and characterized as a "career politician" by Mitt Romney Texas's longest-serving governor has taken pay-to-play tactics—the schemes by which politicians exchange favors and lucrative contracts for campaign contributions—to unprecedented levels

In 1998, Perry received a $1.1 MILLION loan from several top Republicans, including JAMES LEININGER and BILL McMINN. The loan helped put Perry overthe top in a tight race for lieutenant governor. Since then, he has promoted two top employees from Leininger's company to the Texas Board of Health. A biotech company in which McMinn is an investor was the beneficiary of some $50 million in state funds forthe purchase of mouse stem cells and software.

JAMES DANNENBAUM, who runs an engineering firm, has given more than $320,000 to Perry. Dannenbaum's company received several transportation contracts from the state, and in 2007, Perry appointed him to the University of Texas System's Board of Regents.

Leveraged-buyout billionaire HAROLD SIMMONS has donated $|.2 MILLION to Perry's efforts in recent years, In 2001 (against the objections of members of the state's environmental agency) Simmons won a license to operate a low-level radioactivewaste disposal site in Texas, the first to be built in the U.S. in three decades.

Perry has received more than from Dallas-based AT&T's PAC. In 2011, afteran uptickin donations from telecommunications companies, Perry vetoed a bill that proposed restricting texting while driving.

Billionaire B. J. "RED" McCOMBS, who has contributed nearly $400,000 to the governor, is the main investorin a Formula Dne racetrack being built in Texas. In 2011 the state committed to subsidizing the project with $250 million over 10 years.

In 2009 a $50 million grant to ... spurvaccine : development / at Texas A&M, / Perry's alma mater, directly benefited a company owned by DAVID NANCE, a good friend of Perry's who has contributed more than $100,000to the governor.

In 2007, Sanderson Farms received $500,000 to open a plant in Waco, Texas, from a state fund created by Perry. JOE SANDERSON, the company's C.E.O., has donated $165,000 to Perry.

In 2001 and 2002, homebuilder BOB PERRY (no relation to the governor) donated $175,000. In 2003, after Perry created a special commission that protected builders from lawsuits by homeowners, corporate counsel to Bob Perry was given a seat on it.

JAIME LALINDE