Time to Take a Look at Cutting Ethical Corners
This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature.
It’s been 20 years since a scandal-driven Texas Legislature overhauled the state’s ethics laws. Gently put, officeholders have figured out how to cut some corners.
A small example to make the point: They can’t convert campaign funds to personal use, but they can use those funds to rent cars used in their political campaigns. Rules are made to be broken, right? They just have to be reasserted, or revised, from time to time.
Maybe it’s time. The Texas ...
Comments (11)
Jim Vance
There are many things which could improve campaign finance reporting, but two of the most important would be: 1) require all filings, whether local, city/county or statewide for anyone running for an elected office or a political action committee of any and all types, to be made in electronic form that would provide content identical with the paper versions filed at the mandatory locations (local county clerk or TEC) and create an Internet-accessible, searchable online database with the capability to produce simple query reports for printing or generate data summaries for download in various user-selectable formats, and 2) establish uniform mandatory requirements for the last reporting period of 3 days prior to any election, regardless of whether that election involves any public elected office, statewide Constitutional amendment, local bond issue or other ballot initiative with a mandatory reporting requirement.
Casey Magnuson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Double dipping into pensions while still in office. Cough* Rick Perry Cough*
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Stop the unlimited donations to get people elected. If an elected official abuses his power and spends his unlimited donations illegally they should be held accountable. If an elected official steals his donors money he/she should be held accountable just like anyone else who steals.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
TX Lege in Austin!
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Keep shaming them into acknowledging their own corruption instead of compartmentalizing their pretenses of being Christians while practicing conflict of interest.
Johnny Hughes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I recall the danger of civil rights and registering voters in the black area as a police paddy wagon followed us to scare folks in the United States of America to stop them from voting, like the Republican strategy in the last election.
Rob Risko via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Complete and easy to find list of votes by rep and senator on bills where all Texans can track their voice in Austin.
Arthur M. Thomas IV via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As a libertarian I have a problem putting election finance reforms in place. Those end up hurting 3rd parties more than stopping the huge purses of Ds and Rs.
One thing they need to do is stop bypassing reading and public commenting on bills. They hold these meetings in secret. The legislature needs to be open!
Chris Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
increased vote verification,,,,, to get them out.... I heard that the last time the districts show Bill White ahead,,,but the election software showed Perry the victor ....
gypsy314 ne
Look out gay rights and know telling what else is planned for them now. I can see it now more hispanics not enough in office or some other crap like that.
C.g. David via Texas Tribune on Facebook
HOT TAX and Economic Development Corporation Oversight Laws need to have teeth. It is taxpayer money that is the most abused.