Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Burnam / Others To Call For Texas Ethics Reform

I imagine most of you have already heard about Bill Ceverha, ERS Board member and former treasurer of TRMPAC, receiving cash gifts from Houston builder Bob Perry that totaled $100,000. When it came time to disclose his financial statement, he simply wrote "check" with no amount disclosed. The Ethics Commission ruled that Ceverha had broken no rules and did not have to disclose the amount of the gifts.

Of course, this is ridiculous. What is the point of having ethics rules, if disclosure is not required? Fortunately, a group of Texans is stepping forward to demand the ethics rules be reformed. This group is composed of State Rep. Lon Burnam, attorney Buck Wood, Suzy Woodford [Common Cause], Maxine Barkan [League of Women Voters], and Tom Smith [Public Citizen].

They will be holding a press conference on Wednesday at 10:00am in the Speaker's Committee Room at the Texas Capitol. Rep. Burnam says they will "demand that the Ethics Commission take action to close the loophole regarding disclosure of gifts to elected and appointed officials."

I commend these brave people for their actions. It is time for all Texans to demand higher ethics and more accountability from their officials.

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