Texas Senate Passes Ethics Reform
The Texas Senate, passing its first bill of the 2017 legislative session, unanimously approved an ethics reform package that watchdogs say will help curb conflicts of interest and shed more light on the private dealings of state elected officials.
The fast-tracked legislation, Senate Bill 14 by Sen. Van Taylor, now heads to the Texas House. Among other provisions, the bill would take pensions away from elected officials convicted on felony public corruption charges, make retiring lawmakers wait out one full legislative session before becoming lobbyists and require more disclosure of lobbyist wining and dining of state officials.
The hottest debate came over a proposed amendment by Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, aimed at requiring lobbyists to disclose their entertainment spending on “widely attended events,” such as football tailgating parties, to which state officials are invited. Watson warned that a new loophole could open up without that new provision, in turn allowing lobbyists to stage large events they would then use to “influence” lawmakers.
That prompted a round of questions from senators, including an angry response from Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, who said it was “offensive” to suggest that a lobbyist might somehow influence his official actions.
Read more: http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2017/02/08/187118/texas-senate-passes-ethics-reform/