Close ethics gap

A ban on accepting campaign cash during the regular session should be extended to special session.

Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, a man from East Texas who got rich selling chickens, passed away last week. As co-founder of the Pilgrim’s Pride line of poultry products, he leaves behind a legacy that’s especially noteworthy during this month’s special session of the Texas Legislature.

One day during a 1989 special session, Pilgrim strolled onto the floor of the Senate and distributed $10,000 checks to politicians who were about to vote on a bill he supported. On each of the checks, he also conveniently left the payee’s name blank. Even in a state where lawmakers nakedly play fast and loose with campaign money, this audacious act sparked public outrage. Legislators decided to outlaw the sordid practice of collecting campaign contributions inside the Capitol.

Now, a generation later, we need to take that reform one step further. A law passed in the same era forbids legislators and statewide office holders from accepting any campaign cash during regular sessions of the Legislature. But as the Chronicle’s James Drew reports from our Capitol bureau, that rule doesn’t apply during special sessions. It’s a loophole as wide as the Texas sky, and the Legislature needs to close it.

Unfortunately, Gov. Greg Abbott has no compunctions about dragging the sack as state lawmakers debate the items he put on their agenda. Indeed, his fundraising emails have shamelessly cited his pending legislation as a reason for donors to write him campaign checks. And Abbott’s not alone. Donors have been doling out cash at fundraisers hosted by a number of state lawmakers, including newly elected state Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston; his colleague state Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, held a fundraiser sponsored in part by three powerful lobbying firms.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus have set a good example by refusing to accept campaign cash during the current special session. That standard needs to be codified in state law. State Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, has filed legislation that would extend the contribution ban to special sessions. Our governor, who campaigned on ethics reform, should add this subject to his agenda for the special session.

Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, may he rest in peace, won’t hand out any more checks inside the Texas Capitol. But what’s happening today in the Legislature isn’t much better. Our elected officials need to stop hitting up lobbyists for campaign cash during special sessions of the Legislature.