Guest Column: A Campaign Finance Coup d'état
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case constitutes activist judicial arrogance. Full Story
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On the Records: Per-Capita Money Maps
The governor's race candidates fill their campaign coffers disproportionately from some rural areas, according to a per-capita calculation. Each Dallas resident gave $1 to the race in 2009, for example, while those in Blanco donated $57. Full Story
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Who's Got What
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. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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The Brief: January 19, 2010
It's Debra Medina's moment. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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On the Records: Ready, Set, File
Today the campaigns file reports itemizing their donations and expenditures. Full Story
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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? Full Story
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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. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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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? Full Story
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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. Full Story
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With Friends Like These...
A Florida judicial ethics panel ruled that judges and lawyers who might appear before them in court may not ethically "friend" each other on social networking sites like Facebook. Texas has no such recommendations — and there's no real consensus here on how social networking should or should not be used. Ben Philpott, who covers politics for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report. Full Story
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Show Us the Money
The Texas Ethics Commission wants candidates and elected officials to come clean about their spending, and it's adopted new rules that require them to do just that. Full Story
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On the Records: A Data Challenge for Texas
What are state and local governments in Texas doing to make raw data available to the public? Not much. Full Story
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On the Records: The Lobby Latest
How many people could you feed with $2.7 million? Full Story
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The $4.2 Million Question
How much of Bill White's federal war chest could be used in a race for governor? Most of it. Full Story
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Debtors' Treadmill, Part Two: Political Payday
Groups that offer high-interest, short-term consumer loans and want to avoid state regulation contributed more than $1.4 million to Texas politicians over the past nine years, Texas Ethics Commission records show. Full Story
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Campaign Cash: To Cap, or Not to Cap?
Should the state set limits on political contributions? Depends on which candidate you ask. Full Story
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Off The Books, Part Two: Contractor Conflicts
State contractors – many of whom get paid top dollar to advise Texas agencies – are largely immune from reporting conflicts of interest. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva
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