Texas Republicans try to grant themselves exemption from any prosecution.

[Ladewig]

Texas House bill 913

If the special office determines that an offense
prescribed by Title 15, Election Code, has not been committed:
(1) the special office shall notify in writing the
official who notified or referred the investigation to the office
that the office does not recommend criminal prosecution; and
(2) a prosecuting attorney may not prosecute a person
for the alleged violation.

LA Times

Â_A bill filed this week by a veteran state GOP lawmaker would give the Texas Ethics Commission — whose members were appointed by the three top elected officials in the state, all Republicans — the power to quash the prosecution of a politician.
Critics call it a brazen attempt to protect GOP leaders who might become entangled in an ongoing criminal investigation into whether illegal fundraising paved the party's rise to power in the state.

[snip]

State Rep. Mary Denny, who filed the bill, said in an interview Thursday that she was attempting to add oversight, not remove it. She said it never occurred to her that the legislation could be used to protect Republican leaders who might become targets of the fundraising investigation.

It never occured to the bill's author that a committee appointed by Republicans which would have the power to stop any ethics investigation in the state might be used for partisan purposes. Christ on a bike - have these people no shame?

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

Errr, we wouldn't want to "delay" any leadership actions by Texas Republicans by "quaint" Ethics Committees.....

Charlie (Texas is known for big things, especially hypocrisy) Monoxide

 

[hgc]

does not recommend criminal prosecution

followed by

may not prosecute

Classic doublespeak. When is a recommendation not a recommendation?

 

[Cleon]

Someone start the countdown before the resident Republicans will argue that

A) It's being taken out of context by the EEEVVIILLL liberal media
B) It's not as bad as it sounds, and of course
C) Democrats would do the same thing.

 

[Phrost]

Someone start the countdown before the resident Republicans will argue that

A) It's being taken out of context by the EEEVVIILLL liberal media
B) It's not as bad as it sounds, and of course
C) Democrats would do the same thing.

No no no, you've got it all wrong.

It's Clinton's fault.

Yes, I'm a Republican. Yes, I can make fun of my own party.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I suppose next they'll declare that they have papal infallibility.




I have monkey infallibility (ex cathedra simius): I cannot help but be a monkey.

 

[crimresearch]

Someone start the countdown before the resident Republicans will argue that

A) It's being taken out of context by the EEEVVIILLL liberal media
B) It's not as bad as it sounds, and of course
C) Democrats would do the same thing.

I think you pretty much just did it for them, now didn't you?

 

[RandFan]

Someone start the countdown before the resident Republicans will argue that

A) It's being taken out of context by the EEEVVIILLL liberal media
B) It's not as bad as it sounds, and of course
C) Democrats would do the same thing.

Yeah, the Republicans here are all apologists and the liberals are simply seekers of the truth.

I think it's pretty pathetic (what the Republicans in Texas are doing).

 

[Ladewig]

OK, now that everyone has had a chance to crack wise about this bill, can we be serious.

I think this action is offensive beyond belief: an appointed committee to prevent the judicial system from functioning as outlined in the federal and state constitutions. How out of touch does someone have to be to think that it is a good idea to let politicans exempt politicans from prosecution?

Criminey, I hate both political parties.

 

[crimresearch]

OK, now that everyone has had a chance to crack wise about this bill, can we be serious.

I think this action is offensive beyond belief: an appointed committee to prevent the judicial system from functioning as outlined in the federal and state constitutions. How out of touch does someone have to be to think that it is a good idea to let politicans exempt politicans from prosecution?

Criminey, I hate both political parties.

Amen!!!!

Sadly, this bill seems like some more of the campaign to eradicate the separation of powers with 'non-reviewable' laws, 'sovereign immunity', and other legislative mandates to the judiciary and executive branches.

 

[Ziggurat]

I think this action is offensive beyond belief: an appointed committee to prevent the judicial system from functioning as outlined in the federal and state constitutions. How out of touch does someone have to be to think that it is a good idea to let politicans exempt politicans from prosecution?

It also strikes me as quite unconstitutional, in that it's pretty much guaranteed to violate equal protection requirements.

Criminey, I hate both political parties.

A pox on both their houses, all right.

 

[Zep]

Wasn't Judge Roy Bean a Texan? This sure sounds like something he would do...

 

[KillerBob]

Wasn't Judge Roy Bean a Texan? This sure sounds like something he would do...

Nahhh, he'd just look at the plaintiff and defendant, decide which one he didn't like, and shoot 'em. 'Nuff said.


And I don't care if it's my party, your party or nobody's political party, this is a bad idea no matter what.

Definitely a case of the fox guarding the henhouse...

 

[Zep]

I suppose next they'll declare that they have papal infallibility.




I have monkey infallibility (ex cathedra simius): I cannot help but be a monkey.

Please! Don't go GIVING them ideas!!!