In Texas, trying to rally public enthusiasm for ethics reform can be as challenging as running for governor as a Democrat, but Chris Bell is making the effort on both fronts, nonetheless. Last week, Bell laid out a “Don’t Mess With Ethics” proposal that he intends to make a hallmark of his platform to clean up government corruption. “The problem with the culture both in Washington and Texas is an excessive tolerance for corruption,” he said at a press conference. Bell’s proposals include limiting individual campaign contributions to $5,000 and political action committee contributions to $10,000, empowering the toothless Texas Ethics Commission with meaningful enforcement capabilities, banning phony “issue ads” within 60 days of an election, and closing the lobbyists’ revolving door at the state Capitol. While serving in his former role as a U.S. representative, Bell, of Houston, drew national attention for filing an ethics complaint against then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, resulting in the GOP leader’s public scolding by the House Ethics Committee.
This article appears in October 21 • 2005.
