More problems for state Rep. Kino Flores. From the AP (we first spotted this via the Abilene Reporter-News):

AUSTIN -- A powerful South Texas lawmaker who oversees the gambling industry -- and is the subject of a wide-ranging corruption probe -- quietly received the rights to a fishing cabin near South Padre Island from a family that's developing a racetrack in McAllen, records obtained by The Associated Press show.

Papers filed with the Texas General Land office show Joseph V. LaMantia III transferred a rare fishing cabin permit to state Rep. Kino Flores, D-Palmview, in 2006, a year before the Texas Racing Commission gave final approval for Tesoros Race Park, in which the LaMantia family holds a major stake.

Neither Flores nor LaMantia returned phone calls from the AP. Flores' attorney, Roy Minton, said he was aware of the cabin but didn't believe it would hold any interest to Travis County prosecutors looking at Flores' relationship with the LaMantias as well as two convicted drug dealers from whom Flores acquired his Rio Grande Valley ranch.

Irony: When I went to Flores' Web site this morning, immediately it launched a sound file of Flores talking -- and the first thing he says is, "It is better to give than to receive."


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