Record shows Hutchison put $2 million in energy ... has received a comparatively high amount of campaign contributions from the energy sector

HoustonChronicle.com - Record shows Hutchison put $2 million in energy: "June 14, 2005, 9:47PM | Most of Cornyn's $240,000 nest egg is in mutual funds and bank accounts | By SAMANTHA LEVINE | Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has received a comparatively high amount of campaign contributions from the energy sector, owns as much as $2.4 million in stock in a dozen major energy companies and a slew of Fortune 500 companies, according to her personal financial disclosure for 2004.

Republican Hutchison's stock portfolio, which includes shares in some Texas-based companies, has no bearing on her actions on Capitol Hill, spokesman Chris Paulitz said.

"No matter what holdings she has, it wouldn't make any difference," he said, adding that "you can't expect a U.S. senator not to invest in their own future."

Bob Stein, dean of the social science school at Rice University, said the investment in energy shares "is clearly a conflict of interest in some people's minds, but I doubt Texans will lose too much sleep over it" because putting money in the energy sector may be considered the Texas thing to do.