th Legislative Session State Senator Van Taylor Texas Public Policy Foundation Policy Orientation 12 January 2017 What They Are Saying Governor Greg Abbott Senator Van Taylor yes ID: 620557
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Slide1
Ethics Reform for the 85th Legislative Session
State Senator
Van Taylor
Texas Public Policy Foundation Policy
Orientation
12 January 2017Slide2
What They Are Saying?
Governor Greg Abbott:
“Senator Van Taylor, yes.
We do need real ethics reform, like what you wrote last time not the watered down version we got.”
(
TPPF
2016 Policy Orientation Key Note Address, 1/8/16)
It's reprehensible that the members of the legislature tried to water down ethics reform and violate their compact with their fellow citizens, their voters who put them in office… They are cheating their own voters.
I demand that they pass ethics reforms this next time
.
(
KVUE
, 1/27/1
Lt Governor
Dan Patrick:
“SB
14 will strengthen Texas ethics laws, and ensure government officials and employees are held to high standards that
inspire the public’s confidence
in a transparent and ethically principled government.”
(Lt. Governor Patrick Announces Additional Legislative
Priorities, 11/21/16)Slide3
DMN Commentary: “A Path to Ethics Reform”
“
An unfortunate observation from my time in Austin is when the will of the people runs counter to the desires of entrenched politicians and insider lobbyists, the illusion of action often trumps the pursuit of meaningful solutions.
… So here ethics reform lingers, stuck between an innocuous title, a barrage of bizarre stunts, and mystifying sleight of hand. We can break this cycle.”
“Recognizing the legislative vulnerability of an ethics reform omnibus bill,
last session's votes offer a road map to navigate the turbulent topic.
By patching together measures that gained overwhelming support, but did not make it through the full process, the 85th Legislature can do the people's work without the unnecessary theatrics
.”Slide4
Pillars for Ethics Reform
Felon
Politicians Lose Pension and Office
Disclosure
of Government Contracts, Bond
Counsel
, and Legal Referral
Fees
Shining Light On Lobbyist Wining and
Dining
Clear Line Between Elected Official and Lobbyist Slide5
Felon Politicians Lose Pension And Office
HB
681 (84R- Authored by Representative Sheets) passed House
UNANIMOUSLY
Senator
Van Taylor Amendment #1 to HB 408 (84R) passed Senate
UNANIMOUSLY
Senator
Birdwell Amendment #8 to SB19 (84R) passed Senate
UNANIMOUSLY
Representative Canales
Amendment #17 to SB19 (84R) passed House
UNANIMOUSLYSlide6
Disclosure of Government Contracts, Bond Counsel & Legal Referral Fees
HB
1294 (84R- Authored by Representative Capriglione) passed House
UNANIMOUSLY
SB19
(84R- Authored by Senator Van Taylor) passed the Senate
UNANIMOUSLY
Senator
Huffman Amendment #13 to SB19 (84R) passed Senate
UNANIMOUSLYSlide7
Shining Light On Lobbyist Wining and Dining
SB
585 and SB 586 (84R- Authored by Senator Watson) passed the Senate
UNANIMOUSLY
Senator
Watson Amendments #10 and #11 to SB19 passed the Senate
UNANIMOUSLY
Greater
reporting of lobbyist meals were included in both the House passed version of SB19 and in Representative Rinaldi Amendment #27 to SB19. Added together, a total
125 HOUSE MEMBERS
voted for a version of this provision.Slide8
Clear Line Between Elected Official and Lobbyist
No
elected lobbyists passed Senate in SB19 (84R)
UNANIMOUSLY
Both
chambers identified the revolving door of elected official to lobbyist as a cornerstone issue for reform.
Within the different versions of SB19 (84R), the
Senate passed a one-full legislative session cooling-off period and House passed a one-full legislative session freeze on using campaign account for lobbying. When combined, the Senate
UNANIMOUSLY
supported revolving door reform, as did
125 HOUSE MEMBERS
.Slide9
Mission Statement
Whether it be House, Senate, Republican, Democrat, urban, rural, newly elected or veteran members,
every officeholder should recognize the enormity of the trust granted to us by the people to represent their families in government.
It is an affirmation to the people that our efforts to represent them rise above even the appearance of impropriety or self-service
, and that after the dust settles from important policy debates they have the confidence to know, in no uncertain terms, that we work for them no matter our party or position
.
From
the disillusionment left by last session's ethics reform failures, the upcoming 85th Legislature presents an opportunity to honor the promise every elected official makes when they place their name on the ballot:
that we serve our
constituents.
Period.Slide10
#EthicsReformNow
State Senator Van Taylor
Senate District 8 – Collin, Dallas counties
District: 972-.398.9416
Capitol
:
512.463.0108