Whether it’s lobbyists’ spending on legislators or lawmakers who don’t disclose their spouses’ interests on personal financial statements, Texas ethics laws are full of holes.
Texas Ethics Commission
Posted inState Government
Bill Would Double Campaign Finance Disclosures
Legislation doubling campaign finance reporting, tighting up the laws governing political action committees in Texas and adding more detail to officeholders personal financial disclosures was unveiled Monday by Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington.
Posted in
Bidness As Usual
Leaving the Legislature, but Not Going Too Far
Soon after their replacements were sworn in last month, eight former House members registered as lobbyists with the Texas Ethics Commission.
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Bidness As Usual
Bills Renew Push for Ethics Commission to Post Financial Disclosures Online
Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, both filed legislation on Thursday that would require personal financial statements submitted to the Texas Ethics Commission to be made available online.
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Bidness As Usual
Video: A Look at Texas Ethics, Then and Now
The last substantial Texas ethics reforms passed during the 72nd legislative session. It wasn’t easy then — and won’t be easy now. But members pushing for new rules say they’re optimistic that their colleagues will support making the state’s business more transparent.
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Bidness As Usual
Interactive: How Texas Stacks Up on Disclosure
Texas’ financial disclosure practices for lawmakers may not be as thorough as ethics experts would like them to be. But the path Texas has taken to reach its guidelines puts it ahead of many other states. Use our interactive to see how Texas stacks up.
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Bidness As Usual
Jim Clancy and Paul Hobby: The TT Interview
The new chairman and vice chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission board on the state’s disclosure rules, their efforts to prioritize certain types of ethics complaints and the reforms they anticipate in the 83rd legislative session.
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Economy
Ethics Commission Declines to Raise Legislators’ Session Pay
There will be no pay raise for legislators this year. The Texas Ethics Commission, at the urging of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus, declined to raise the per diem payments lawmakers get when they’re in session.
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Bidness As Usual
Texas Ethics Reform: A Long, Tortured History
From Gov. James “Pa” Ferguson’s impeachment to the Sharpstown scandal, Texas has weathered mighty ethics controversies. Despite reforms, the Legislature still faces criticism over lax disclosure rules and ties with lobbyists.
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Bidness As Usual
Ethics Opinion Lets Lawmakers Work, Solicit for Nonprofits
The Texas Ethics Commission’s board has approved an advisory opinion that stops short of recommending against lawmakers soliciting contributions for nonprofit organizations they are employed by.
