David Van Os is getting screwed somehow. I don't get it. Why isn't this national news?
If I'm wrong, please inform me.
Abbott: Ad using state tape is legal
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/loca...Abbott: Ad using state tape is legal
Rival accuses official of stealing tax money to promote himself.
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
It looks like a scene from TV's "Cops."
Instead, the arrest video highlighted in a campaign commercial for Attorney General Greg Abbott was shot by a state employee at taxpayer expense. In fact, video of everything from Abbott's news conferences to the latest bust of suspected child predators can be found on his campaign and official state Web sites — all shot by his $70,000-a-year state-paid videographer.
Has the state's top lawyer violated the law prohibiting the misuse of government property or personnel, as his critics suggest, or is he legally blurring the lines between public servant and politician?
In essence, candidate Abbott filed an open records request to Attorney General Abbott for the videos produced by the state. No reimbursement was required, according to the Abbott campaign, because the video copies cost less than $10.
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But the opinion continued, "The lawful advantages of incumbency do not, however, extend to the use of work time of government employees or other government resources to gather or otherwise prepare information for campaign purposes."The legal fine line would be intent: Was the video shot to inform the public or further Abbott's political career?