In Some Cases, Government is All Relative
This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature.
John Pitts has a provision in his lobby contracts that tells his clients they are hiring him to lobby everyone at the Texas Capitol — except for the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
That’s his twin brother, Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie.
“When I have a wet umbrella in my hand at the Capitol, I don’t leave it in his office,” the lobbyist said. In his estimation, the appearance of a conflict wouldn’t do either one of them any good.
“I ...
Comments (1)
Brian Ortego via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Luckily, the laws are written loosely and subject to individual interpretation by each legislator or lobbyist, resulting from loopholes and legal ambiguity, allowing everyone to be moral and ethical, and without guilt, for enriching themselves and their family at the public trough. They must live by the laws that they "write."