In an ironic twist for Gov. Greg Abbott, who has made ethics reform an urgent political priority, the Texas House is taking aim at what critics call a “pay to play” culture among his appointees.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Bill stripping pensions from felon politicians advances
The Texas House voted Monday to strip government pensions from elected officials who commit serious acts of public corruption, moving the first major piece of ethics reform toward the governor’s office.
Posted in
Politics
Tea Party leaders push back on GOP over fast-tracked “Buffett Bill”
Conservative activists are pushing back against the so-called “Buffett Bill,” which would let billionaire Warren Buffett hang onto his car dealerships in Texas but keep the market closed to Tesla and other manufacturers.
Posted in
State Government
Controversial insurance bill moving in Legislature
Texas property owners could face new hurdles when they try to sue their insurer over storm claims under controversial legislation being cheered by groups seeking curbs on lawsuits but jeered by consumer advocates and some businesses.
Posted in
State Government
Ethics reform now includes keeping revolving door to lobby wide open
The effort to slow down the revolving door between the Legislature and the special-interest lobby has hit a major snag: a “cooling-off period” for legislators is gone from the bill.
Posted in
Economy
Warren Buffett visits Capitol and “Buffett Bill” is born
The Texas Senate could soon debate the “Buffett Bill,” a special interest carve-out aimed at giving billionaire Warren Buffett a little relief from protectionist state laws. And the bill that would help electric car maker Tesla Motors? Stalled.
Posted in
Politics
Texas House approves online posting of politicians’ personal financial statements
The Texas House preliminarily approved the requirement that the personal financial statements of state politicians and bureaucrats be posted online.
Posted in
State Government
Embattled TABC chief Sherry Cook is stepping down
Amid a controversy over travel to fancy resorts and other spending controversies, the head of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Sherry Cook, announced she was stepping down from her job effective May 23.
Posted in
State Government
TABC on hot seat over trips and spending controversies
For more than three hours, top TABC officials were grilled by House members for misusing state resources, taking trips to Hawaii on the taxpayers’ dime, mixing vacation with state duties, misreporting who has been assigned which state-owned vehicles, and cozying up to the very industry they’re supposed to be regulating.
Posted inState Government
Watch as House committee questions Texas liquor regulators
We’re livestreaming a hearing of the Texas House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics, where top Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials will testify about controversial spending practices at the agency.