In 2008, California-based watchdog Dave Palmer filed a sworn ethics complaint against state Sen. John Whitmire, alleging that the Houston Democrat broke the law by spending campaign funds on pro sports tickets. 

Back then I worked for the Houston Chronicle, which reported on the complaint, and I helped Austin-bureau reporter Gary Scharrer by calling the senator for comment.

Whitmire defended the purchases and, as our conversation ended, joked: "Call me when you get a real story."

Apparently the Texas Ethics Commission agrees.

The panel issued a ruling last week stating that Whitmire's $90,000 in tickets to the Astros ...

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