Hickman, Sears, Faught Return Phillips Money

Mick Hinton of the Tulsa World and The Associated Press report today that State Reps. Jeff Hickman, Earl Sears and George Faught are returning contributions given by the son of a man linked to convicted former state Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher. The donations were given by Bradford Phillips who is the son of Texas insurance company owner Gene Phillips.

Here's the essence of Hinton's story: Three Republican lawmakers confirmed Wednesday that they will be returning unsolicited campaign contributions from Bradford Phillips, the son of controversial Texas insurance company owner Gene Phillips.

Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Dacoma (left), and Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville (center), both said they received checks for $600, and Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee (right), received $645.

The contributions came in late December.

The three are members of a House committee that approved legislation favorable to the Phillips family last spring.

Faught said that when he learned about the controversy surrounding the Phillips family, he decided to return the check.

Sears, who had cashed the check, took $600 out of his campaign Tuesday and sent it to Phillips.

Hickman said he was mailing the check back Wednesday. "I returned the contribution; I just felt uncomfortable," Faught said.

Read more at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080117_1_A9_hThem76744.

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