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Summary
A coalition of citizen advocacy groups are calling for Ethics reform in Texas politics. Support is also broad for a clarification of the requirement that political contributions be described with the amount of the donation as well as the method of payment.
Background
National political scandals, including those involving Tom Delay and State PAC limits, have brought clean government and ethics reform to the forefront of media attention. Various parties have used this opportunity to call for statutory change at the state level.
One such coalition is
Make Democracy Work. Their platform can be seen
here, and calls for the legislature to:
• Place a $100,000 Aggregate Limit on Individual Contributions;
• Close the Revolving Door between the Legislature and the Lobby;
• Keep Judges Independent by Appointment and Retention Elections;
• Record All Non-Ceremonial Legislative Votes; and,
• Create an Independent Redistricting Commission.
The Texas Ethics Commission's refusal to require the value of a gift to be reported merited
National attention.
Political Context
Organizations promoting the Making Democracy Work reform plan include Common Cause Texas, Gray Panthers of Texas, League of Women Voters of Texas, Public Citizen Texas, Texans for Public Justice and the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.
Gov. Rick Perry has stated he will support clarifying the requirement the amount of political contributions be disclosured.
