According to the database, Aplin has given to 20 Republican PACs, including Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan, and former speaker Dennis Bonnen. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Aplin has given the most to Abbott: $1,025,000 to be exact. Donations to other PACs range from $1,000 to $375,000.

Since July 14, Aplin has donated $490,000. More than half of those donations have gone toward Abbott’s PAC.

In August, Abbott appointed Aplin to the new ERCOT Board Selection Committee, which makes recommendations on appointments to ERCOT’s board. The CEO has served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission since November 2018, and was promoted to the chair for the commission just this year.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

A large business owner voting with his wallet for large business isn’t gross just because you or I don’t like it. Bucees also pays all their employees very well for the job it is

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

It is gross when he donates so much money to political campaigns & is rewarded with a position on the board selection committee of ERCOT, which makes recommendations on appointments to the board that runs the Texas electrical grid.

And this is not unusual. I don’t think positions like this should be able to be bought, and I’m not fond of those who participate in this process regardless of their political leanings.

2021 (Year of the Texas freeze that killed 200 people):

But two of the three appointees selected to pick ERCOT’s next board of directors are also major donors to the state leaders who appointed them.

Ryan was appointed to the selection committee by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Ryan is a longtime personal political donor to Patrick. His company’s political action committee, Ryan Texas PAC, contributed $100,000 to Texans for Dan Patrick on June 30. The PAC also gave $100,000 to Texans for Greg Abbott the same day.

Aplin, the CEO of mega gas station chain Buc-ee’s, was Gov. Abbott’s pick. Aplin is a major Republican donor and on June 29 he gave $250,000 to Abbott. On June 28, he gave Patrick $75,000.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Uhhhh its gross because I don't like it. How bout that?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Linguistically, it appears I’ve been got😫

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

And this is not unusual. I don’t think positions like this should be able to be bought, and I’m not fond of those who participate in this process regardless of their political leanings.

2021 (Year of the Texas freeze that killed 200 people):

But two of the three appointees selected to pick ERCOT’s next board of directors are also major donors to the state leaders who appointed them.

Ryan was appointed to the selection committee by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Ryan is a longtime personal political donor to Patrick. His company’s political action committee, Ryan Texas PAC, contributed $100,000 to Texans for Dan Patrick on June 30. The PAC also gave $100,000 to Texans for Greg Abbott the same day.

Aplin, the CEO of mega gas station chain Buc-ee’s, was Gov. Abbott’s pick. Aplin is a major Republican donor and on June 29 he gave $250,000 to Abbott. On June 28, he gave Patrick $75,000.

Source