Hey! It's like Opensecrets.org but for Texas!

[crispini]

The Texas Ethics commission! http://www.ethics.state.tx.us/

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. .

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. I would love to get Molly Ivins' take on this

She always said she couldn't leave Texas, because where else would she get so much material?

Maybe this is another sign of the weakening clamp by Termite Man? He's stomped around Texas crushing all dissent for a long time, a very scary dude.

Thanks for the link, Crispini! As a native Texas who will always love the state, I have special interest in checking this out.

[GOPisEvil]

3. I wish the Ethics Commission had some teeth, though.

It is a good repository of information though.

[sonias]

4. Well you can start by taking action at CleanUpTexasPolitics.org

To put teeth on our ethics committee
http://www.cleanuptexaspolitics.com/see4yourself
Tells you how to use the Texas Ethics Commission website plus gives you two of the biggest ones already in image copy from their web site. It also has some important web actions to tell your TX legislators you are watching what they do this session.

Here is their agenda for this session
Clean Up Texas Politics' reform agenda is fighting to guarantee that elections are decided by the voters, not bought by the fat cats by promoting reforms that will:
1) Close corporate and union soft money loopholes
Tightening the state's prohibition on corporate and union soft money, as the McCain-Feingold law does on the federal level, would ensure that soft money stays out of our state's elections.
2) Establish reasonable campaign contribution limits
Contribution limits would prevent individuals or PACs in Texas from having undue influence over an officeholder.
3) Improve the effectiveness and independence of the Texas Ethics Commission
An effective enforcement agency would serve as a deterrent and ensure our laws are enforced.
4) Record all legislative votes publicly
Recording all legislative votes would ensure accountability to voters.
-------------

Take action today!

Sonia

[GOPisEvil]

5. Idiot republicans take the opposite tack. They just want to make

corporate money legal now. I can't stand them.

[sonias]

6. It's called inoculation

Classic Karl Rove trick. Corporate money is on the radar big time, so they think they can diffuse the whole TRMPAC and TAB corporate finance scandal by saying, OK from now on it's not legal. You see we feel your pain and we agree that it looks smarmy, so from no on, no more corporate money. We promise.

Well the damage has already been done. They control the whole Texas Legislature and that was the whole point. Control and redistricting to keep control.

Fuck them.

Sonia

[crispini]

7. Oooo, tasty!

Great website, thanks for the link! They came to town for a 1-day training session a few weeks ago and I really wanted to go but it was during the workweek and I just couldn't take any more time off. :(

League of Women voters does that too -- meets during the working day, except for one unit. I find that really frustrating -- what, do these people think we don't have JOBS?!