Texas Senate Approves Campaign Ethics Bill
AUSTIN (AP) - A bill to clean up campaign financial disclosure laws and keep Texas lawmakers from double-dipping spending practices stepped closer to becoming law.
The Senate approved Monday legislation to require lawmakers to disclose more information about their campaign finances, including the sale of an asset or investment purchased with a political contribution.
Lawmakers would also have to report potential conflicts of interests with lobbyists.
The bill now goes to the House for final approval before being sent to Gov. Rick Perry.
Current law provides little oversight for political travel funding, allowing lawmakers to pocket taxpayer money with few or no records.
Double-dipping practices have led to criminal investigation.
The bill changes the threshold from $50 to $100 in political expenditures that a lawmaker must report.
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