A review of campaign finance reports for the period from July to December 2009 reveals that some candidates for the Texas House are capable of raising serious money.
Texas Ethics Commission
Posted inState Government
Sharon Keller Might Walk
The Chief Justice of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals should not be reprimanded for actions that led to the execution of a death row inmate in 2007: That’s the opinion of the judge who presided over her ethics trial last year. Ben Philpott, reporting for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this story.
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State Government
2010: Following the Money
In spite of what both campaigns said last month, agriculture commission candidate Hank Gilbert got two-thirds of his money from gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami. Gilbert reported it to the state; Shami didn’t. And both Democrats say the money had nothing to do with Gilbert’s decision to get out of Shami’s race.
Posted in
State Government
On the Records: Ready, Set, File
Today the campaigns file reports itemizing their donations and expenditures.
Posted in
State Government
No Dollar Left Behind
Let’s say you’re a donor to a candidate or an elected official who quits a race mid-campaign or chooses to not run for reelection. What if you made a contribution to one of the nine Texas legislators who decided not to seek reelection this year, or to a former diplomat who toyed with a bid for governor but ultimately thought better of it, or to a tech executive who considered a challenge to a member of Congress but decided against running at the last minute? What happens to your money?
Posted in
Criminal Justice
On the Records: Spending Search
We have 10 years and more than $350 million in Texas campaign expenditures available for search and download. Find your own stories.
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State Government
TribBlog: Fair Game
State Sen. John Whitmire didn’t break the law by spending $90,000 in campaign funds on sports tickets, the Texas Ethics Commission finds.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
On the Records: What the Big App-le Can Teach Us About Open Government
Is NYC bigger than Texas when it comes to releasing government records?
Posted in
Politics
Membership has its Privileges
Since 2005, Texas lobbyists have spent more than $500,000 on transportation and lodging for state officials, including members of the Lege.