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DeLay spokesman Stuart Roy said yesterday that DeLay met with Westar representatives last year. However, Roy said, "We have no control over any fantasies they might have about what they might get for a campaign contribution." The Westar amendment, he said, meshed with DeLay's long-held free market, deregulatory philosophy.

Tauzin spokesman Ken Johnson said: "There was absolutely no express or implied quid pro quo. . . . No one on our committee is going to risk going to jail over a campaign contribution."

Shelby spokeswoman Andrea Lofye said, "Senator Shelby made no request for campaign funds of Westar on behalf of Tom Young, nor did he ever support an exemption from PUHCA for Westar."
Barton spokeswoman Samantha Jordan said the House member put the Westar amendment into the energy legislation, but "absolutely and unequivocally" there was "no quid pro quo whatsoever."

Another e-mail from Lawrence detailed the sums that 13 Westar officials were to contribute to reach the $31,500 in individual, or "hard money," contributions. It said Wittig would give $9,450, Lake, $6,300, and Lawrence, $945. The candidates selected for the "immediate needs" contributions totaling $11,500 were Reps. John M. Shimkus (R-Ill.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Anne M. Northup (R-Ky.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), DeLay and Young.

Westar gave a $25,000 in corporate "soft money" to a political committee with strong ties to DeLay, Texans for a Republican Majority PAC.

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