Opinion: Tex. Politicians’ Charity Work Poses Ethics Quandary

Texas officeholders are barred from raising campaign funds during the legislative session but can still solicit donations to favored nonprofit groups, a form of “indirect giving” that raises thorny ethical issues, according to The Texas Tribune.

The article cites several recent galas featuring Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and leading lawmakers currently assessing budgetary and other legislation potentially affecting donors. The events, with sponsorship fees running into the tens of thousands, raised money for veterans, scholarships, and other programs.

“Worthy causes, across the board,” writes Ross Ramsey, the Tribune‘s executive editor. “It is hard to fault the officeholders for using their prominence to raise money for such programs, the donors for contributing or the charities for accepting the money. But the timing of the events is wince-inducing.”