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AUSTIN, Texas — Former Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth Lay wrote repeatedly to George W. Bush throughout his governorship, seeking support for legislation benefiting the energy giant, according to documents released Friday. 

Many of the letters concerned utility deregulation and tort reform. Others were personal. Some 350 pages of correspondence were released by state archivists following requests from news organizations and others under the state’s open records law. 

“It’s old news,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan Friday. “The governor of Texas like any other governor receives thousands and thousands of letters from people across Texas who have diverse views on a variety of topics.” 

Although Bush signed a law deregulating the electricity market in 1999, the documents do not appear to show that Bush responded in print to Lay’s interest in the issue. 

Also, Bush had made clear during his first gubernatorial campaign that tort reform would be a top priority. He signed a sweeping bill into law in 1995. 

The two also exchanged birthday, holiday and get-well wishes. Much of the correspondence came from Lay, while a few letters originated from Bush’s desk. 

Bush wrote a note in 1997 wishing Lay a happy birthday: ”55 years old. Wow! That is really old. Thank goodness you have such a young, beautiful wife.” 

In his two Texas gubernatorial campaigns, Bush received $312,000 from Enron officials, including Lay, who was one of his biggest donors. 

In separate letters in 1996, Lay and former Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling told Bush that Enron officials could arrange for him to tour Enron’s trading floor in Houston. 

“We would like to show you how we do business,” Skilling wrote. 

The following year, Lay wrote Bush about Enron’s negotiations for a $2 billion joint venture to develop Uzbekistan’s natural gas fields. According to the note, Bush was scheduled to meet with Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the United States just a few days later. 

“This project can bring significant economic opportunities to Texas, as well as Uzbekistan,” Lay wrote. 

Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry released correspondence between Enron executives and the governor’s office in response to another open records request. 

Those documents showed that as governor Bush appointed at least two officials recommended by Lay. The White House has said the appointments were made on merit, not on Lay’s recommendation.