Texas Republicans Ducking the "Law"

The campaign to de-fang Ronnie Earle continues.

A member of Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick's leadership team wants to give the Texas Ethics Commission veto power over local prosecutors' prosecution of crimes under the election code.

Rep. Mary Denny, R–Aubrey, chairwoman of the House Elections Committee, would create an office under the state commission to conduct election code violation investigations such as Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle's two-year investigation of the Texas Association of Business, Texans for a Republican Majority and Craddick.

Why change now?

Immediately after the 2002 legislative elections Earle began investigating the use of corporate money by the state's largest business organization and Texans for a Republican Majority, created by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, in several crucial state House races.

Craddick has been pulled into the fray because of his role with Texans for a Republican Majority.

Craddick first denied being involved with the group because he was running for speaker of the Texas House. But legal documents in recent months have shown that Craddick raised money for the group, had his staff distribute it to Republican candidates who supported him and consulted with the political action committee's associates about their activities.

But a critic of the bill, Craig McDonald with Texans for Public Justice, said the Ethics Commission, appointed by state officials and split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, is not known for taking action against officials.

That would be an understatement. And whatever action they do take would of course not involve any criminal charges violations of Texas law; if anything it would be a slap on the wrist like some public condemnation, or maybe taking away Craddick's parking privileges for a month.

The recent desire for the change is of course related to Earle's effort to nab naughty Republicans who broke state law. As for the sponsor of the bill, Mary Denny:

Texans for a Republican Majority and the Texas Association of Business helped Denny in her 2002 election, particularly in a contested Republican primary.

Whadd'ya know!