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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Why some complain to the Travis County DA, and not the Texas Ethics Commission


Gregg Cox, director of the special prosecutions division in the Travis County district attorney office, acknowledged getting the complaint last week


Send your comments and news tip to Gary Scharrer's report (below) or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the story


From Texas Watchdog
Published Nov. 2 2011

More evidence today showcasing the ineffectiveness of the Texas Ethics Commission, this time from the Hearst Newspapers’ Austin bureau.

From the San Antonio Express-News’ Gary Scharrer:

Photo by Bob Daemmrich, Texas Tribune
A typically dapper-looking member of the Texas state Senate, who often wears double-breasted suits, reimbursed his campaign after an ethics watchdog raised questions about Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay spending nearly $8,000 on clothing from political contributions.

Officeholders cannot use campaign money to buy clothing that can be used for general purpose occasions, according to a 2009 ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission.
Dave Palmer, who runs the Folsom, Calif.-based “Ethics Watchdawg,” filed a complaint against Fraser with the Travis County district attorney for allegedly violating Texas election law codes.
So why did Palmer file his complaint with the Travis County DA and not the Texas Ethics Commission? Well, he did, but it’s likely the complaint was thrown in the trash. Legislators changed the rules so that the Ethics Commission can only accept a complaint from a Texas resident or property owner.

7 comments:

Walk on Water said...

As with so many legislative committees, state agencies and other related groups, the Texas Ethics Commission is corrupt to the bone.

Emancipator said...

Kudos to Dave Palmer (all the way from California) for standing up to scumbags who are allowed to buy their hustler pimp clothes on the public dole.

Texans are so corrupted it takes someone from another state to put things right.

Anonymous said...

@ Emancipator

If Texans are so corrupt why are you living here?

Anonymous said...

Oh yes, we need to have our ethics policed by Cal-E-fornia, the land of fruits and nuts;)

Anonymous said...

@ Wake up/Emancipator
Just because I love my state does not mean I am blind to it's faults. We do no need California to point out our problems. They need to take care of their "house" first. At least we are not bankrupt like they are.

Charles O'Dell said...

"We do not need California to point out our problems."

"A typically dapper-looking member of the Texas state Senate, who often wears double-breasted suits, reimbursed his campaign after an ethics watchdog raised questions about Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay spending nearly $8,000 on clothing from political contributions."

Apparently we do.

Patricia M. said...

Charles I agree with you. Maybe we do need some "outsiders" to help us remove our blinders. This is a great state and we all need to help keep her on the straight and narrow.
However if you don't vote then you have no right to complain. So get out there and vote people!
I voted my voice counts. Every vote counts!