California guy exposes cheating on Texas lawmakers' financial reports

Of course, the Texas Ethics Commission is a joke. One guy from California has proven that!

Now comes Dave Palmer, a Folsom, Calif., man who spends 10 hours a day at his three computers poring over the electronic records of politicians in several states. On one day in February, Palmer filed 24 complaints against Texas officeholders, mostly over how they spend their political donations on everything from leasing luxury cars to buying cleaning supplies for their Austin apartments. He promises more.

Palmer is among a growing number of individuals filing multiple and far-ranging complaints against Texas officials. There were almost as many complaints filed the first four months of 2008 as all of last year, and the Texas Ethics Commission is asking Gov. Rick Perry for $200,000 in emergency money to hire more staff members to handle a projected 178 percent increase in complaints this year.

Is this any way to police the conduct of public officials? In Texas, it has to be.

"The Legislature hasn't given us the staff or the budget to enforce the law," said Tom Harrison, chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission. "It's meant to be self-policing. We have to rely on other people."

No budget? Apparently, it just takes one guy.

Meanwhile, the 100% Republican Supreme Court pays back its donor.

A Texas Supreme Court decision that sided with the state's most prolific campaign contributor in overturning an $800,000 arbitration award to a suburban couple has critics renewing complaints of what they say is big money influencing elected judges.

Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, who has given millions of dollars to state and federal candidates, prevailed Friday after a 5-4 decision by the state's highest civil court in a case over a defective house.

The nine judges on the all-Republican panel, whose decision overturned two lower-court rulings, have each received contributions totaling more than $260,000 from members of Perry's family.

Perry got a nice return on his money. The Texas citizens, not so much.