Budget Fix: Kill the Ethics Commission

State Rep. Jim Pitts is making promises to throw poor, sick people out on the street in order to fix the Texas budget crisis that the Republicans created:

"Pitts told the crowd that the state is studying Medicaid and other forms of government-run health care with the idea of getting out of it. A man in the audience mentioned a friend on the program and asked whether lawmakers would “throw him out on the street.” 

“If we did exactly what we’re doing today, we wouldn’t be throwing him out on the street,” Pitts answered. “But if we have any savings on getting out of Medicaid, we will have to throw some people out in the street. I’m not telling you that your friend would be, but the eligibility to receive state benefits will go down."

He also said lawmakers would propose eliminating some state agencies, and I have a suggestion - abolish the Texas Ethics Commission! Why not? John Coby's post on Larry Taylor made me think, really, why not kill this commission right off the bat when the Lege goes into session. 

According to a complaint filed with the Travis County District Attorney, Taylor has been stealing from the tax payers by filing for travel reimbursement from the Comptroller's Office. But this travel was paid for by his campaign account, The Coalition To Elect Larry Taylor. 

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This complaint was filed by Dave Palmer of California. He couldn't file with the Ethics Commission because the republican House and Senate passed a bill forbidding complaints from outside of Texas. Instead he filed with the District Attorney's office. This is a better move since the TEC will never, and has never, taken action against anyone stealing money from taxpayers or their donors. 

The TEC has an annual budget of over $2 million with 37 full time equivalent employees. 

I say throw it on the fire, and get rid of this toothless, ridiculous, tax payer wasting agency once and for all. No one will miss it, except for attorneys who make a killing off of defending their clients in front of the Ethics Commission (hello, Ed Shack.)  Elected officials and candidates running for office would be able to run amok and steal, cheat and spend their campaign cash however they want with no consequences for misbehavior . . . unless someone wants to file a complaint with the DA like Dave Palmer did against Larry Taylor. 

This is a state agency that is not protecting the public interest. Instead it's just protecting the interests of elected officials. Chip $2 million off the budget deficit by making it go bye-bye.