A new judge Wednesday reaffirmed the dismissal of a ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission against conservative power broker Michael Quinn Sullivan.
Texas Ethics Commission
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: When a Disclosure Report Doesn’t Do Much Disclosing
State law requires lobbyists to report what they spend on legislators and other state officials. But the loopholes are big: Less than 5 percent of the lobby’s reported spending on food and beverage names the eaters and the drinkers.
Posted inState Government
High Hopes for Ethics Reform, but It’s Early
Gov. Greg Abbott’s full-throated embrace of ethics reform, a rarity under the Capitol dome, is breathing new life into the issue of years of failed efforts. But changing the status quo remains very much a work in progress.
Posted in
Politics
Abbott Expected to Renew Push for Ethics Reform
Advocates for ethics reform say Gov. Greg Abbott has a rare chance to help spearhead improved lawmaker disclosures and reduce conflicts of interest. Abbott is expected to address ethics reform Tuesday in his State of the State address.
Posted in
State Government
Watson Wants More Disclosure of Wining and Dining
Sen. Kirk Watson has filed three bills that would close a gaping loophole in state ethics law — one that allows lobbyists to avoid naming names when they fill out their mandatory spending and entertainment reports.
Posted inState Government
Ethics Bill Would Shed Light on Contracts
State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a leading advocate of ethics reform in the notoriously unrestrained Texas Legislature, filed legislation Tuesday designed to shed more light on lawmakers who make money off of government contracts.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Lawmakers Send an Ethics Message, Intentional or Not
Some of the Legislature’s early actions indicate some ambivalence about the agencies and people who enforce state ethics laws.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Legislators’ Traveling Expenses and Schmoozing, Linked
The session stipends for legislators are set to rise, and because of a loophole in Texas law, that would mean lobbyists could spend more on legislators without saying whom they are wining and dining.
Posted inPolitics
Explore 8-Day Campaign Finance Reports
The 8-day reports — the final look at candidate campaign finance totals before Election Day — are in. We have compiled data for all statewide, State Board of Education, Texas Senate and Texas House candidates who filed electronically with the Texas Ethics Commission.
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Bidness As Usual
Liveblog: Open Government at The Texas Tribune Festival
We’re liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival’s Open Government track. The sessions include panels on disclosures by legislators, open records in Texas, transparency and the Texas budget, and the issue of donor privacy.
