Zedler draws fire for not reporting contributions

Former Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, failed to list about $36,000 of contributions from conservative backers on his latest campaign finance report, a Zedler spokesman acknowledged today. Zedler's trying to win back his seat from Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson, in southern Tarrant County.

Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/cgRt4B

Speaker Straus helps out 6 with rough campaigns

AUSTIN – Speaker Joe Straus has swooped in to help troubled colleagues, giving more than $700,000 over the summer to six fellow Republicans struggling with self-inflicted political wounds. GOP Reps. Linda Harper-Brown of Irving and Joe Driver of Garland are among those receiving big help from the speaker, according to finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission this week.

Garrett delves into campaign finance reports to get the story http://dallasne.ws/aHUIPp

Texas education board member cleared of serious violations in reporting of gifts from bidder

AUSTIN – Ethics officials have cleared a State Board of Education member from San Antonio of allegations that he failed to report gifts from a Boston-based company that sought to manage part of the state's education trust fund last year. The Texas Ethics Commission said in a report that board member Rick Agosto, D-San Antonio, committed technical violations in his reporting of the gifts. But the agency found no serious legal violations and did not impose any civil penalties.
http://dallasne.ws/bPoqW9

State Rep. Joe Driver of Garland double-billed for travel

AUSTIN – State Rep. Joe Driver of Garland, who rails against the evils of runaway government spending, admitted Monday that he has pocketed thousands of dollars in taxpayer money for travel expenses that his campaign had already funded. AP reports: http://dallasne.ws/9Bnpe4

Travis County DA's office investigates: http://dallasne.ws/9EXCn1

Group files complaint on Perry campaign disclosures of mansion expenses

Jay Root from the AP reports:

Since 2001, Perry's campaign has spent more than $800,000 under the loosely defined category of "mansion expenditures." Texans for Public Justice said in a complaint filed Tuesday with the Texas Ethics Commission that the campaign violated disclosure laws by failing to itemize the spending.
http://tinyurl.com/26zv7rp

Texas House members fear confusion over rule on gifts from corporations

AUSTIN – Elected officials learned Wednesday that, thanks to the law of unintended consequences, there's no more free lunch. And they're not happy about it.

House committee members were angry and perplexed over a 9-month-old opinion from the Texas Ethics Commission that says city, county and state officials can't accept corporate-paid travel, meals or lodging if they are offered in conjunction with their office. Hoppe has the story.
http://tinyurl.com/2fjwwko

Judge Sharon Keller fined $100,000 for failing to disclose assets

Steve McGonigle reports:

The Texas Ethics Commission has fined Sharon Keller, presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, $100,000 for failing to disclose more than $2 million in assets on her state-required personal financial statements.

In an order released this week, the commission found there was "credible evidence" that Keller had violated five separate sections of the Texas Government Code by failing to make full disclosure of her holdings in statements filed in 2008 and 2009.
http://tinyurl.com/2dqswvs