Austin, TX
Texas agency that oversees campaign finance needs clean-up
The state agency responsible for making sure Texas political candidates, state officers, lobbyists and others comply with campaign finance law could use some help from the Legislature in the upcoming session to do its job more effectively.
That’s the main takeaway from a lengthy review of the Texas Ethics Commission by the state’s Sunset Advisory Commission staff, who issued a report on the agency last month.
Specifically, lawmakers should clean up the “numerous requirements and layers upon layers of exemptions” that make “compliance challenging for the regulated community and enforcement difficult” for the TEC, the staff report states.
We urge the Sunset commission to approve the recommendations made by the staff in the report, and send them on to the Legislature for action. The work of the ethics agency, established through a constitutional amendment in 1991, is vital to ensure transparency behind the millions of dollars donated to campaigns every year, and lawmakers must champion it.
Far from calling for widespread ethics reform, which the Legislature has failed to pass in more than a decade, the Sunset staff is simply recommending commonsense tweaks to the agency’s enabling statute to allow for a more efficient process.
Doing so would amend the “complicated, outdated, and unclear statute” that “hinders meaningful disclosure, strains TEC’s limited resources, and burdens filers,” according to the staff report.
For example, innocent filing errors or submitting required forms even minutes after deadlines are minor violations that nonetheless trigger a confusing administrative process and often result in civil penalties. Another example is that the statute still requires the TEC to send late notices and other documents via mail, sometimes registered or certified, when email would make better sense.
“Receiving a notice by first-class mail can take up to five days, during which time the penalty could have increased by up to $500″ for a late filing, the staff report noted. Another recommendation: the Legislature should allow the TEC to redirect unspent funds in its budget for other purposes to its on-going technology needs.
J.R. Johnson, executive director of the TEC, applauded the Sunset staff’s “thorough and thoughtful” work in a Dec. 2 letter. He said he welcomed the proposed clean-up of the agency’s regulations so that it can “accomplish its mission” more successfully. The Sunset commission and lawmakers should take note that the agency leadership stands ready to implement changes.
The admirable mission of the TEC is needed now more than ever. There are “historic levels of money pouring into elections and few limits on campaign contributions and expenditures,” the Sunset staff noted. The public deserves a TEC unencumbered by chasing after minor filing mistakes and outdated processes so that it can focus on the more ethically questionable activities of political candidates, office holders, lobbyists and others.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: Jack Sawyer #33 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Ar
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Texas Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night.
Ohio State will go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship later this month.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: The Texas Longhorns huddle before the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Fourth quarter:
Ohio State answered first in the fourth quarter. They took the lead 21-14 with less than eight minutes left in the game.
Texas marched down the field but came up empty-handed.
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was sacked, leading to a fumble. Ohio State recovered the ball and ran it back for an 83-yard touchdown.
Ohio State now leads 28-14 with less than three minutes left.
With Texas’ first drive back, Ewers was intercepted.
Ohio State wins the Cotton Bowl Classic 28-14 over the Texas Longhorns
Third quarter:
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw an interception during their first drive of the quarter. Texas was unable to answer.
With less than four minutes left in the third, Texas tied the game 14-14.
Second quarter:
To start the second quarter, Texas fumbled the ball twice, but recovered the ball both times.
Ohio State had several penalties, keeping them from marching up the field.
Texas tied the game 7-7 with less than a minute left in the first half.
Ohio State answered back with a 75-yard run for a touchdown. Ohio State took the lead again, 14-7, to end the first half.
First quarter:
Ohio State won the coin toss and deferred for the second half. The Longhorns will have the ball first.
Texas was unable to score on their first possession of the game. Ohio State now has the ball.
Ohio State is on the board first. Texas trails 7-0.
To end the first quarter, Ohio State had the lead 7-0.
Texas vs Ohio State: How to watch, stream
- Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Where: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
- Date: Friday, Jan. 10
- Time: 6:30 p.m. (CT)
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV (with subscription)
Match-ups to Watch
Quarterbacks
Neither quarterback in this game is a stranger to playing in Arlington.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.
Texas won the Big 12 in its last season in the conference last year. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship win over then-undefeated TCU two years ago.
Stopping Smith
The best match-up of the game could be Texas All-American senior cornerback Jahdae Barron vs. standout Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Barron won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.
College Football Playoff National Championship
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns/Ohio State Buckeyes
- Date: Monday, January 20
- Time: 7:30 P.M. (CT)
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press, the College Football Playoff and past FOX 7 coverage.
The Sports Office: Jan. 6, 2025
FOX 7 Austin’s Dennis de la Pena and producer Julian Martinez talk about the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes!
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes will face off in Arlington, Texas on Friday in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
The winner of the game between Texas (13-2) and Ohio State (12-2) will go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship.
Texas vs Ohio State: How to watch, stream
- Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Where: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
- Date: Friday, Jan. 10
- Time: 6:30 p.m. (CT)
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV (with subscription)
Key Players
Quarterback matchup
Neither quarterback in this game is a stranger to playing in Arlington.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.
Texas won the Big 12 in its last season in the conference last year. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship win over then-undefeated TCU two years ago.
Stopping Smith
The best matchup of the game could be Texas All-American senior cornerback Jahdae Barron vs. standout Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Barron won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.
Predictions
- Pick Against the Spread: Texas (+6)
- Pick Over/Under: Under (53.5)
- Prediction: Ohio State 27, Texas 22
Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.
FOX Sports Analyst Joel Klatt went with Ohio State in his prediction for the Cotton Bowl. Klatt says the Buckeyes are playing the best football in the country right now and the fact that the game is being played in Texas is keeping the line (Texas +6) lower than it should be.
- Klatt: Ohio State 35 – Texas 21
National Championship Game
The winner of the Longhorns and Buckeyes game will take on Notre Dame in the championship game.
The game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Longhorns played in the SEC Championship and against Arizona State in the College football playoff.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns/Ohio State Buckeyes
- Date: Monday, January 20
- Time: 7:30 P.M. (CT)
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
The Source: Information in this article comes from the College Football Playoff, the Associated Press and FOX Sports.
TEXAS — The 89th Texas Legislature will start on Jan. 14 with 181 lawmakers.
The House of Representatives’ organization will be managed by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who will also select temporary officers. The Secretary leads until a Speaker of the House is elected.
Secretary Nelson announced that Walter Fisher and Sharon Carter were appointed as parliamentarians for the House’s session inauguration.
“This is a duo with extensive parliamentary knowledge and the experience to guide the opening of the 89th Legislative Session,” said Secretary Nelson. “With the support of these individuals, we will make sure the organizing of the House is a fair, transparent and orderly process.”
The 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and the 31 members of the Texas Senate will be sworn in as the 89th Legislature on Tuesday. The legislature will meet until June 2.
You are able to watch the Senate proceedings on opening day at this website.
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