Praxis List Company

The ownership of the Praxis List Company is a complicated path to follow. Originating as part of or connected with Karl Rove & Company, Praxis evolved to at least part ownership by former Karl Rove employee Todd Olsen when, in 1999, Rove sold off interest in the company (whether all or part has not been clearly determined) when Rove joined the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign.

One web address for Praxis (www.olsen-shuvalov.com/list.html) provides linkage to the "Olsen & Shuvalov" web site. The Praxis page currently contains only one active link, which is for email contact. A second web address (www.praxislist.com/) contains two active links: one for a "Printable" version of the web site, which merely links again to Olsen & Shuvalov, and a second for email contact. Neither additional information about Praxis or other contact information is provided.

Bush's gubernatorial re-election
The February 5, 1999, Texas Observer reported that "From July through December [1998], Bush's re-election committee paid Karl Rove & Co. nearly $2.5 million, and also paid the Rove-owned Praxis List Company $267,000 (for use of mail lists). Rove says his work for the Bush campaign included direct mail, voter contact, phone banks, computer services, and travel expenses."

In the August 2, 1999, Austin Chronicle, Robert Bryce wrote: "Where Bush spends his money is interesting. How he's spending it is also key. So far, the biggest expenses in Bush's campaign appear to be postage, travel, and payroll. With more than 70,000 donors already on the books, Bush is spending heavily to make sure those donors get proper thank you notes. The campaign has paid the U.S. Postal Service over $439,000, and that doesn't count expenses incurred by individuals who were then later reimbursed by the campaign. Nor does it include the amounts paid to various direct mail outfits. The campaign paid $51,573 to Praxis List Company, a direct mail list service owned by Olsen & Delisi, the Austin-based direct mail and consulting company that bought out political strategist Karl Rove's consulting firm earlier this year. The campaign also paid Olsen & Delisi another $155,000 for direct mail work. Add in another $20,000 or more that was paid to other direct mail firms, plus $13,000 to Federal Express for delivery services, and it's clear that direct mail expertise is one reason why Bush's campaign has become the fundraising dreadnought of presidential politics."

Raising Eyebrows
The Austin Chronicle reported on November 5, 1999, "While Ted Delisi's work for the Bush campaign may not violate state ethics laws or Cornyn's policy, the amount of money involved in his consulting business is substantial enough to raise eyebrows. In July, the campaign reported that it paid the two companies in which Delisi is a partner -- Praxis List Company and Olsen & Delisi -- over $206,000 for direct mail and consulting work between April 1 and June 30. During the most recent reporting period, the Bush campaign reported 62 different expenditures to the companies totaling $766,458 -- $340,326 to Olsen & Delisi and $426,132 to Praxis. The most commonly listed reasons for the expenditures included 'consultant expense-fundraising,' 'list expense,' and 'direct mail expense.'"

External articles

 * Robert Bryce, "The Check's in the Mail," Austin Chronicle, January 14, 2000.