Texas Ethics Commission Is All About Delay

In a long list of things that are outrageous about the Texas Ethics Commission, this just about tops my list. There is an article in the Statesman about how the TEC has a confusing website, with hard to find disclosures about who was fined, when and how much. That's because the settlement is posted in the year in which the complaint was filed. And, these folks at the TEC aren't quick, folks. It can take WAY over a year for resolution of a complaint. Here's an example that chaps me (emphasis mine):

The site is not always user-friendly. The order is listed on the site under the year the complaint was filed, not the year it's resolved.

Most of the 2008 sanctions can be found listed under 2006 or 2007, for example. In one instance, Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, told reporters that he had settled a case months ago (for paying his wife with more than $50,000 in campaign money) that won't appear on the commission's Web site until after the November election.

The delayed disclosure of the sanction was part of the confidential settlement.

I think it is outrageous that an officeholder who is breaking campaign finance laws can get the TEC to agree to keep the information away from the public until after the election. This sounds like influencing the election to me. This sounds immoral, illegal and irresponsible to me.

Folks, the TEC spends two million dollars of your tax money every year. They've fined 43 people this year and only one of those settlements is on the website for 2008. They are supposedly going to redesign their website "today" to reflect current fines. I'll be watching for that, but not holding my breath.

This seems overly whiny:

The complainants "usually run to the press," said Natalia Luna Ashley, the commission's general counsel.

Well, duh. If the TEC is making deals with officeholders to delay revealing the sanction until after the election, then thank goodness for folks who are willing to stick their neck out and "run to the press." And, a big huge thank you to the press for reporting these stories. Seriously.

I'm annoyed.

UPDATE: Well, color me surprised. The Ethics Commission already has a new link on their website with the sworn complaint orders by date issues. It's a running list from 1992 to the present. Way to go AAS for holding their feet to the fire on this one.