The Brief: Sept. 16, 2010

THE BIG CONVERSATION:

Is that Dallas-Fort Worth ethics bug becoming a chronic ailment?

Following a series of high-profile ethical lapses in the Metroplex, the Tribune's Elise Hu reports today that former state Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, used his political office to obtain confidential records from the Texas Medical Board.

Zedler, now running to reclaim the House District 96 seat he lost in 2008, says he was acting to defend doctors who he thought had been wrongly targeted for investigation. "I intervened on their behalf because you have attempts by the medical board to sanction somebody when there’s clearly no explanation [of] why," Zedler says.

At least two of the five doctors whose cases Zedler reviewed had donated to his campaign. But Zedler, whose faces incumbent Democrat Chris Turner in a closely watched race this November, maintains that the board is corrupt. "You ought to be investigating the medical board," he tells Hu. "That’s the problem.”

Legislators may pull private medical records — but only for official legislative purposes. Zedler says he didn't use the documents for such purposes because the timing wasn't right: The 2007 legislative session had passed, and he lost his seat in 2008.

Under Texas law, the use of confidential medical information for non-legislative purposes is a misdemeanor, carrying a fine of up to $1,000 or jail time.

As Hu notes, the flap has also raised questions of lawmakers' ability to acquire such records. "We really can’t police it," says board spokeswoman Leigh Hopper. "We just hope that they’ll do the right thing with it.”

CULLED:

• Nearly as many Texans — around 30 percent — believe Barack Obama is a Muslim as approve of his performance as president, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Another 14 percent answered that they don't know the president's religious affiliation.

• The debate deadline passed, and it looks as though Gov. Rick Perry and Bill White won't appear on the same stage together before Election Day. Wednesday also marked the release of Perry's first negative ads against White, which his campaign rolled out quietly in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

• Never one for subtlety (or cheap web design), Back to Basics — the political action committee behind the infamous "coward" ad targeting Gov. Rick Perry — has stepped into the heated, closely watched House District 102 race between Democratic incumbent Carol Kent and Republican Stefani Carter with a website targeting "Counterfeit Carter." Meanwhile, Carter issued a news release showing her polling 9 points ahead of her opponent.

"I’m not a big fan of resolutions, national car-buying month or biscuit-eating week or whatever. They don’t bind anybody to anything." — State Board of Education Chair Gail Lowe, R-Lampasas, on a resolution brought by defeated board candidate Randy Rives to warn textbook publishers that a "pro-Islamic/anti-Christian bias has tainted some past Texas Social Studies textbooks." Resolutions typically mean little, but as the Trib's Brian Thevenot reports, the board appears to be poised to take up this issue, possibly inserting itself into recent debate over Islam and cultural sensitivity.

MUST-READ:

Despite pressure, Cornyn to attend fundraiser for gay Republicans — CNN

White hoping 'Big D' stands for Democrats on Election Day — Houston Chronicle

Mexico bicentennial: El Paso event grows due to Juárez violence — El Paso Times

Families Lose Estates in Guardianship Battles — The Texas Tribune