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Wed Aug 11, 2010 at 03:47 PM CDT
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| Earlier, I wrote about Bill White's vision for humble servant-leadership. At the core of that idea is this principle: Humble servant-leadership is not just listening to what people have to say, but using the information obtained to set priorities and reorder them when need be. It is this humility that allows the elected official to be true to the spirit of the democratic progress. It is this humility that allows the CEO to be true to their team and customers.
To emphasize that humility, and to put forth a vision for a better kind of government in Texas, Bill White unveiled his 8-point ethics reform package today. Without a core set of principles and ethics at the foundation of a government, we cannot trust our elected officials. To learn more about Bill White's impressive 8-point ethics reform plan, read below the fold... |
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The following is Bill White's ethics reform plan. To learn more about it, visit his website. 1. APPOINTMENTS TO BE BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO TEXAS, NOT POLITICS OR POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. - WHITE PLAN: Appointments will be based on experience and ability, not politics or political contributions. Appointees and spouses will be limited to contributing $10,000 per election cycle after the appointment. Appointees will be barred from soliciting contributions from those they regulate.
- PERRY PRACTICE: Perry uses partisan litmus tests for appointments, and appointees serve as part of a campaign machine. Examples include 42 Perry appointees who have each given him at least $100,000 for a total exceeding $9.7 million. Appointees who supported Senator Hutchison in the primary were pushed to resign. Perry appointees solicit money from those they regulate. The chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission solicited Perry campaign funds from hundreds of bar and restaurant owners he was responsible for regulating.
2. THE REVOLVING DOOR FOR LOBBYISTS TO BE SLAMMED SHUT.
- WHITE PLAN: Slam shut the revolving door between public service and big-time lobbying. Senior staff of the Governor’s Office and state agencies will be held to a two-year rule. When hired, they’ll be prohibited from working on issues related to former employment for two years. When departing, they will be prohibited from lobbying the Governor’s Office or their state agency for two years. The same employees and their spouses will be prohibited from soliciting political contributions.
- PERRY PRACTICE: Perry allows lobbyists to work as state staff on the very same issues they were paid to lobby on. For example, five of seven Perry chiefs of staff have been lobbyists, together making millions and working, with other staff, against the interests of Texans on projects like the Trans-Texas Corridor and the massive executive order to vaccinate middle school girls.
3. SENIOR STAFF TO FILE PUBLIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, BE BARRED FROM FUNDRAISING.
- WHITE PLAN: To promote transparency, senior staff in the Governor’s Office will be required to file yearly personal financial statements with the Texas Ethics Commission and will be barred from fundraising.
- PERRY PRACTICE: Senior staff in Perry’s office do not file personal financial statements although some have financial ties that may influence their decision-making. For example, spouses of Perry’s chief of staff are permitted to raise big money for Perry’s political campaign from people who want things from state government.
4. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BIDDERS ON STATE CONTRACTS TO BE LIMITED
- WHITE PLAN - Bidders on state contracts will be prohibited from contributing to statewide campaigns while their bid is being considered and for 30 days after a contract is awarded for those who win. Contributions will not be a factor in contracting decisions; contractors will not be pressured to make contributions.
- PERRY PRACTICE - Gov. Perry accepts large contributions before and right after state contracts have been awarded. One contractor awarded $8 billion in contracts during Perry’s tenure contributed a total of $395,000 to Perry, with many contributions within a few weeks before or after contract awards.
5. MYSTERY FUNDING FOR GOVERNOR’S PET FUNDS TO END.
- WHITE PLAN: The source of all funds controlled by or benefiting the Governor will be reported to the public on a quarterly basis, reducing potential for inappropriate influence, personal enrichment or enhancing personal lifestyle.
- PERRY PRACTICE: Gov. Perry uses millions contributed to “non-profit” groups like TexasOne to finance his pet projects and lavish personal lifestyle, but Perry refuses to make the sources of funding readily accessible to the public and the press.
6. NO MORE SHREDDING -- SUNLIGHT FOR PUBLIC RECORDS. - WHITE PLAN - Access to public records is essential in a democracy. Records will be preserved for a reasonable period of time, and the Governor’s Office will be responsive to public information requests. Relevant information, such as compliance for state grants, will be put online.
- PERRY PRACTICE - Perry’s office destroys e-mails after seven days. It took five months to obtain Texas Enterprise Fund documents even though Perry’s Attorney General had ordered them released. Perry has shown little respect for the public’s right to know and repeatedly seeks protection from disclosure.
7. GOVERNOR TO MAKE FULL AND TIMELIER DISCLOSURE OF DEBTS AND GIFTS. - WHITE PLAN - Debts or gifts to the Governor will be disclosed every six months, and penalties for failure to do so will be increased.
- PERRY PRACTICE - Perry has violated the law by not reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and gifts worth tens of thousands of dollars.
8. “BLIND” TRUST CHARADE TO END. - WHITE PLAN – The Governor will disclose information about all assets.
- PERRY PRACTICE – Perry does not disclose even what he knows is in his so-called “blind” trust, using it as an instrument to hide from the public and avoid discussion of conflicts of interest.
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