Houston Politics Blog

May 14, 2008

Ethics report past due?

David Mincberg, Ed Emmett's Democratic opponent, wants to know why the ethics reform task force the county judge appointed in February hasn't delivered its recommendations.

According to this story about Emmett's announcement of the task force, the panel was supposed to report back within three months, i.e. yesterday.

"I'm surprised Ed Emmett failed to follow through on this promise," Mincberg said in a statement. "He's simply dropped the ball. We need an independent Board of Ethics that is both free of politics and gets the job done."

Emmett did not specifically remember setting a 90-day deadline, but he acknowledged he may have said that at the press conference. Still, he did not sound concerned about the delay.

"I have purposely set up the task force to go do their work without interference from me or any other politician," he said.

Emmett spokesman Joe Stinebaker said the panel is working on a broad outline of changes they'd like to see, such as what should be disclosed, who they can require to disclose it and who they actually want to require to disclose it. The recommendations should be ready by the end of the summer, he said.

Posted by Liz Peterson at May 14, 2008 04:39 PM

Local 2 News Investigation about Emmett Improperly Using Tax Dollars

ABC 13 Investigation on Emmett's Failure to Ask Tommy Thomas Serious Questions about the $1.7 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit

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