|
|
|
|
|
Main Page
|
|
Investigative
Report Little-Known Texas Patron Guided Bush Policies On Vouchers, Tort Reform Leininger's Business Interests
James Leininger's empire in Texas began with a bed manufacturing company and has expanded to include real estate, a sports team and food processing plants.
Dr. Leininger, an emergency room physician, purchased Kinetic Concepts Inc., which makes high-tech beds for immobile patients, in the late 1970s. He nursed the company through near-bankruptcy and began turning a profit a few years later. From this beginning, Leininger amassed the wealth that places him as one of the 100 wealthiest Texans. He sold a share of the company to Richard Blum, husband of Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, D-Calif., in 1997 for $885 million.
A look at some of Leininger's other interests:
Leininger co-owns Mission City Food Co., parent company of Promised Land Dairy and other food processing groups such as Sunday House smoked turkey. Leininger gives his companies Christian gospel-based names and the dairy, which makes ice cream and sells milk in glass bottles, has biblical verses emblazoned on the packaging. Leininger and his managers decided to close a Fredericksburg, Texas, plant
of Sunday House, the largest producer of smoked turkey in the world, after employees voted to unionize.
The plant burned down days later; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms determined the July 1999 blaze was accidental.
Beginners Bible. Leininger holds the trademark license to the Beginners Bible for children, and coloring books.
Focus Direct. Leininger bought the San Antonio-based printer and mail service firm, which undertakes conservative political mailings, in 1989.
Winning Strategies. With Dallas businessman Bob Reese, Leininger co-owns the political consulting company, which has a client list that includes the Christian Coalition. A deal with the city of Canton, in northeastern Texas, provided for $200,000 in tax subsidies for placing the business in the city. The city managers said they thought the group more commercial than political. However, a review of records by the
Dallas Observer last year indicated that all of the clients were Republicans who were right of center.
As part of the deal, Reese appealed to the Canton Economic Development Board to buy him a 24,000-square-foot metal building and lease it back to Reese for free for a few years. He requested that the city make some necessary repairs and pay for his electric and water bills as well. The city bought the building and made some repairs, at a $375,000 cost to taxpayers. Canton even kicked in a $3,000 insurance policy for the building. All of this benefited a consulting firm whose political clients call for less government assistance.
San Antonio Spurs. Leininger holds about 10 percent interest in the San Antonio professional basketball team. Leininger also is part-owner of Home Court America, a San Antonio basketball and recreational center.
Mission City Properties. Leininger owns a real-estate outfit that buys, rents and sells properties. Currently, many of Leininger's think tanks and political action committees are housed in properties owned by Mission City.
Texas Network and Mission City Television. The TXN network, owned by
Leininger, was an ambitious venture begun in January 1999 that cost Leininger more than $10 million of his own money and was headquartered in a
Leininger-owned building. The network began as a statewide news service, to air in 18 of Texas' 19 media markets. In September 1999, the network expanded its influence to an Internet-based newswire service and a radio broadcast. Due to lack of advertising revenue, TXN's last broadcast was July 28. A side company,
Mission City Television, produces videotapes and commercials, among other television products.
Kathryn Wallace is a writer at the Center for Public Integrity.
|
|
Main Page
News Reports Center Commentary
Subscribe From
the Editor Feedback Join
the Center
for Public Integrity � Copyright 2010, The Center
for Public Integrity. All rights reserved |
