Draft ethics ruling: Don't do the math

[Judi Lynn]

Sept. 19, 2006, 10:13PM
Draft ethics ruling: Don't do the math

By LISA SANDBERG
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - Texas politicians who receive suitcases full of cash may not be required to report the amount of it, according to a draft ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission.

Under the proposal, candidates for state offices could satisfy Texas disclosure laws by simply calling it "currency."

Watchdog groups deplored Tuesday's draft opinion by the agency established to monitor campaign-finance laws. Agency commissioners are expected to vote on it Friday.

"If the Texas Ethics Commission adopts this opinion ... public officials can take millions of dollars in cash and legally write 'currency' on their disclosure form," Craig McDonald, director of the Austin-based Texans for Public Justice, which favors tougher campaign-finance laws, said in a statement. "This interpretation of the disclosure law is absurd and dangerous."

The vote will come six months after the same commission ruled that a gift of two checks for $100,000 could be listed simply as "checks."
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/4199809.html

[Kutjara]

1. Great idea!

And if they received suitcases full of cocaine, they can report that as 'nonprescription medication.'

I think the Ethics Commission may want to dust off the dictionary and look up the word 'ethics' again.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. I think if they do that I may move to Texas

and become a politician.

[NMMNG]

2. Hey, can we do that on our income tax returns?

I'd love to put "income" in the little box instead of an actual amount. :P

[annabanana]

4. This is funny....

One is tempted to see if The Onion is behind it...

[Solly Mack]

5. Just write "bribe" and be done with it...tattoo "my price is___" on their

foreheads and save the small talk for important stuff...

[acmejack]

6. Actually they put the price on the bottom of their shoe.

Just like a prostitute in Russia.

[Bandit]

7. Texas Ethics Commission

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Do they even know the meaning of the word ethics?