August 22, 2012 •
New Vendor Rules Possible for HISD
Ethics Rules
Trustees of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) hope to change ethics rules involving vendor contracting.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the new rules would require trustees to disclose relationships with vendors, prohibit trustees from voting on contracts where a vendor contributed $500 or more to a trustee’s political campaign, and prohibit vendors’ contributions while bidding for HISD contracts.
Last October, similar ethics changes were discussed but not implemented by HISD. The trustees are expected to vote on new policies in September.
April 11, 2012 •
Today’s Government Ethics News
Here are the latest articles from the states:
North Carolina: “John Edwards gambles on NC jury to avoid prison” by Michael Beisecker (Associated Press) in the Seattle Post Intelligencer.
North Carolina: “Edwards campaign repays taxpayers $2.1 million” by Michael Beisecker (Associated Press) in Bloomberg Businessweek.
South Carolina: “State Ethics Commission probing SC Gov Haley campaign finances, sets July hearing” by Meg Kinnard (Associated Press) in The Republic.
Texas: “Texas Ethics Commission report disappoints some good government activists” by Mark Lisheron on TexasWatchdog.org.
April 2, 2012 •
Today’s Government Ethics News
Here are the latest articles covering the federal government and the states:
Federal: “Lawmakers profit from positions in Congress” by Gary Martin in the San Antonio Express-News.
Federal: “Ethics committee: Sen. Vitter of Louisiana violated public trust in blocking Salazar salary” by The Associated Press in The Washington Post.
Florida: “Senate to decide punishment on Norman ethics violation” by Brittany Davis in the Miami Herald.
Idaho: “Idaho Senate approves series of new ethics rules” by Alex Morrell and Todd Dvorak (Associated Press) in the Idaho Statesman.
Mississippi: “Lawmaker appeals $346K ethics violation order” in The Clarion-Ledger.
New York: “APNewsBreak: NY board won’t disclose hire record” by The Associated Press in The Wall Street Journal.
Ohio: “Cleveland lawmaker requests legislative group’s financial records after recent bribery charge” by Joe Guillen in The Plain Dealer.
South Carolina: “Blame enough to go around for ethics rank” in the Orangeburg Times and Democrat.
Texas: “Two-thirds of Texas congressional delegation named in report on ethics lapses” by Gary Martin in the Houston Chronicle.
March 2, 2012 •
Texas Primary Date Changed
Runoff Election Date Also Rescheduled
A federal court has pushed back Texas’s primary date from April 3 to May 29.
Additionally, the Texas general primary runoff election has also changed to July 31 from June 5.
A three judge panel from the US District Court for the Western District of Texas San Antonio Division, having entered redistricting plans for the 2012 elections for the US House of Representatives, the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas State Senate, found it necessary to make certain adjustments to the election schedule. The court’s order, issued March 1, stipulates various other changes of filing dates and deadlines for candidates and for voting activities concerning elections of federal, state, county, and local offices held in the state.
The court order also mandates that for the 2012 elections to the Texas House and Senate, a person must be a continuous resident of the district the person seeks to represent from April 9, 2012 until the date of the General Election.
The court’s order can be found, via the website Texas Redistricting.
February 24, 2012 •
Texas 30-day Pre-Election Reports Due March 5 Not Required
No April 3 Ballot
The Texas Ethics Commission announced there is no requirement to file the 30-day pre-election report due March 5th.
Normally, committees such as general and specific-purpose political committees that support or oppose a candidate or measure must file reports 30 days before an election in which the committee is involved, covering the first day after the period covered by the last report through 40 days before the election.
The Ethics Commission lifted the requirement because there is no ballot for the April 3rd election. The state’s primary election dates will likely be changed once redistricting in Texas has been finalized.
December 19, 2011 •
Texas 2012 Election Dates Change
Primary and Runoff
The dates for the Texas general primary and the runoff elections have been changed.
Judge Orlando Garcia of the United States District Court for The Western District of Texas issued an order altering the dates of the elections. The order was agreed to by all parties in the action.
The 2012 general primary date has been changed from March 6 to April 3. The 2012 general primary runoff election will be held on June 5, instead of the previously scheduled date of May 22.
December 13, 2011 •
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Texas Redistricting Case
Campaigns and Fundraising Affected by Competing District Lines
The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will hear arguments on January 9 regarding Congressional and State Legislature districts in Texas. This has put Texas campaigning and fundraising in a state of confusion.
You can find the news coverage here:
“Redistricting Orders Throw Texas Politics Into Disarray” by Ross Ramsey in the Texas Tribune.
“Texas Elections Are in Limbo Over Redistricting Issue” by Manny Fernandez in the New York Times.
“Judges to offer guidance to party leaders after Supreme Court blocks maps” by Tim Eaton in the American-Statesman.
November 22, 2011 •
Texas Lobbying Software Updated
Activities Report
Lobbyists in Texas must update their filing software to the newest version in order to properly file reports.
Becky Levy, Director of the Disclosure Filings Division of the Texas Ethics Commission, issued a memorandum stating before filing lobby activities reports, the software used must be upgraded in order to have the latest enhancements to file properly. Lobbyist activity reports in Texas must be filed electronically unless qualifying for an exemption.
More information about the software, and how to download it, is located here.
November 1, 2011 •
Texas Ethics Commission Adopts Amendments to Campaign Finance Rules
Track Senate Bill 1
The Texas Ethics Commission has adopted amendments to its rules regarding reporting requirements under the campaign finance law.
The changes in administrative rules §§20.50, 20.62, 20.219, 20.279, 20.331, and 20.433 bring them in line with Senate Bill 1, passed earlier this year.
While the bill became effective September 28, the Ethics Commission’s adopted rules became effective today.
October 11, 2011 •
Texas Ethics Commission To Be Evaluated
Sunset Advisory Commission Assessment
The Sunset Commission, a legislative body created by the Texas Legislature to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies, will seek public input during its scheduled review of the Texas Ethics Commission.
During the evaluation of the Ethics Commission’s mission and performance, submitted comments and suggestions will be accepted until the suggested date of November 21. The Sunset Commission then anticipates it will issue a report in March 2012 followed by a public hearing with testimony in April.
Based on the public input and the report, any recommendations to the legislature will be submitted at the start of its next session in January 2013.
Some of the duties the Texas Ethics Commission administers and enforces are the election code concerning political contributions, expenditures and political advertising, and lobbying registration, reports and activities.
The announcement of the review can be found here.
Photo of the Texas State Capitol by LoneStarMike on Wikipedia.
July 20, 2011 •
Facebook App Connects Public to Local Government
Report Problems and Request Services From Local Governments on Facebook
True to the recent trend that can be observed in both local governments and the federal government, the city of Burleson, Texas has released a new Facebook app named the Citizen Request Tracker soon to be spread to other communities nationwide that makes it easier for citizens to report problems and request services from its local government.
This app can help alert the local authorities about such issues such as pot holes, graffiti, barking dogs and malfunctioning streetlights.
Read more about the Citizen Request Tracker Facebook App in “New App Connects Social Media Users with Municipal Services” by Brian Heaton posted on GovTech.com.
June 30, 2011 •
Legislative News from the States
Sessions in Alaska, Maine, and Texas adjourn
ALASKA: The Legislature’s second special session ended with the Senate adjourning sine die on June 27 and the House adjourning sine die on June 28.
MAINE: The Maine Legislature adjourned sine die June 29, 2011.
TEXAS: The Texas Legislature adjourned their special session on Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Barring another special session, the Legislature will not meet again until January, 2013.
May 31, 2011 •
Texas Legislature Adjourns, But Special Session Called
The Texas Legislature adjourned sine die on Monday, May 30, 2011.
However, the Legislature was immediately called into special session by Governor Rick Perry due to the failed effort to finalize the state budget.
The special session is set to begin Tuesday, May 31, and cannot last longer than 30 days.
Other items are expected to be added to the special session’s agenda.
Photo of the Texas State Capitol by Kumar Appaiah on Wikipedia.
April 19, 2011 •
Lobbyist Registration Fees on Rise in Texas?
Bill Containing Potential Lobbyist Registration Fee Increase Moving Through House
House Bill 3653, a bill concerning lobbyist registration fees, was brought before the House Appropriations Committee on Monday, April 18, 2011, as the bill moves closer to a vote before the full House.
The bill would provide for lobbyist registration fees of up to $1,000; however, lobbyist registration fees of up to $200 would be assessed if the lobbyist is employed by a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization.
If passed, the bill provides for an effective date of September 1, 2011.
Photo of the Texas State Capitol by LoneStarMike on Wikipedia.
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