Texas Ethics Commission

A conundrum for Texas Capitol gatekeepers: What makes a reporter a reporter?

2014-07-28T14:21:39-05:00

By Ross Ramsey The Texas Tribune Originally published July 28, 2014 Texas lawmakers are going to have to figure out what a reporter is. You have no reason to care about this, unless you want to keep up with what is being done in your name at the Texas Capitol, and you think having reporters on the floor of the House and Senate increases your chances of finding out. On the flip side, there is the legitimate concern that a news reporter who might also be a lobbyist and campaign activist could be prowling the floor next session with a media [...]

A conundrum for Texas Capitol gatekeepers: What makes a reporter a reporter?2014-07-28T14:21:39-05:00

Tarrant water district hires expert to address open government, ethics

2013-11-20T16:29:13-06:00

By Gordon Dickson Fort Worth Star-Telegram Originally published Nov. 19, 2013 FORT WORTH — A former Texas Ethics Commission chairman has been hired to help the Tarrant Regional Water District resolve some of its problems with open-government issues. Ross Fischer, an Austin lawyer, will help the agency, which provides long-term water resources for North Texas, deal with an increasing number of open-records requests, as well as other matters related to ethics, water district general manager Jim Oliver said. “We feel it’s time to bring in an expert in open government who can guide us with these open-records requests,” Oliver told water [...]

Tarrant water district hires expert to address open government, ethics2013-11-20T16:29:13-06:00

Texas Ethics Commission to hold secret proceeding on complaint

2013-10-28T14:59:00-05:00

By Ross Ramsey The Texas Tribune Originally published Oct. 28, 2013 State ethics regulators are weighing complaints sparked by the political campaigning and legislative influence of the conservative gadfly Michael Quinn Sullivan, Empower Texans and related organizations. But you won’t get a chance to watch most of it. Two lawmakers accused Sullivan and his organizations of breaking the state’s election laws while inveighing against moderate Republicans in the 2012 primaries, and of violating the state’s lobby reporting laws in their conversations with lawmakers. The Texas Ethics Commission has scheduled a confidential hearing for Tuesday — its second — as it decides [...]

Texas Ethics Commission to hold secret proceeding on complaint2013-10-28T14:59:00-05:00

New laws clearly aimed at boosting governmental transparency

2013-09-30T03:09:44-05:00

By Kolten Parker San Antonio Express-News Originally published Aug. 11, 2013 AUSTIN — As the dust settles on the 83rd Texas Legislature, open government advocates are applauding new laws they say leverage evolving technology to increase access and shine light on all levels of government for both residents and officials. “I think it was a really good session for transparency in government. It was kind of the buzzword of the session,” said Donnis Baggett, executive vice president of Texas Press Association. Next month, Texas will become the first state allowing officials at all levels of government in the state to communicate [...]

New laws clearly aimed at boosting governmental transparency2013-09-30T03:09:44-05:00
Go to Top