TPJ Criticizes Craddick for Abolishing Ethics Committee

Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick's announcement on Tuesday that he is disbanding the House Committee on Ethics was met by sharp criticism from Texans for Public Justice, a campaign watchdog group. "The Texas House of Representatives and Speaker Craddick are engulfed in the most serious ethics scandal that Texas has seen in more than thirty years. This is not the time for Craddick to abolish the Ethics Committee," said Craig McDonald, Director of Texans for Public Justice.

TPJ Criticizes Craddick for Abolishing Ethics Committee

For Immediate Release:	For More Information Contact:
April 14, 2004	Craig McDonald, 512-472-9770

Austin: Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick's announcement on Tuesday that he is disbanding the House Committee on Ethics was met by sharp criticism from Texans for Public Justice, a campaign watchdog group.

"The Texas House of Representatives and Speaker Craddick are engulfed in the most serious ethics scandal that Texas has seen in more than thirty years. This is not the time for Craddick to abolish the Ethics Committee," said Craig McDonald, Director of Texans for Public Justice.

"Abolishing the Ethics Committee is like disbanding the police force in the middle of a crime wave," said McDonald. "Instead of disbanding the Ethics Committee, it should be made a permanent committee of the House. Texas has a long way to go in reforming our ethics and campaign finance laws. A permanent Ethics Committee should be working right now to plug the loopholes that make our elections resemble those of a third world country."

"Craddick's action, coupled with his party's resolution to strip DA Earle of his jurisdiction over political corruption, is reminiscent of the 1973 Saturday Night Massacre when President Nixon fired Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox at the height of the Watergate investigation," added McDonald.