Precarious situations

MORE THAN 1 OF 20 TEXAS NURSES HAS CRIMINAL RECORD - Labor shortage in health care workers has reduced the industry to hiring the precarious among us.

Precarious Conflict of Interest by one of your school board members was discussed this AM at the coffee shop round table in the western part of the county. PISD school board members and school employees during bond elections are held to a very high standard of ethics. If these ethical rules are broken they are direct violations of the law in the state of Texas.

An employee of the PISD cannot actively support (take a position nor promote) for/against a bond proposal while on the clock. There have been some instances in the state that individuals were fined for actions taken during what is considered off the clock time. "An employee of a school district has to exercise caution in regards to their individual position on bond issues" per an employee at the Secretary of States office. The PISD cannot use its resources, i.e. personnel, copy machines, paper, land to locate signs, etc. in regards to either position on a bond issue. They may use their resources in an education type manner. Thus the reason for the creation of the political action committee Footprints for the Future. The PAC is charged with campaigning for the 'pro' side of the bond issue.

School board members are on the school clock 24 hours a day 365 days a year. They were elected to serve a term in office that does not include time off from official duties. Rules are a little more strict in that a school board member has no off the clock time. The letter in last weeks paper by the school board member could be considered a position letter and not a letter in regards to educating the voters. At another coffee shop round table it was reported that this same school board member appeared on a campaign finance report for Footprints for the Future that was filed with the Texas Ethics Commission contributing $100 towards the support of the PAC who is supporting a PRO outcome. This is a violation of the state election code. This is the reason all politicians have their own PAC's so they can contribute money legally to positions and candidates of interest. This school board member does not have a PAC set up for such purposes according to the records of the Texas Ethics Commission. The contribution of $100 validates the PRO position of the Letter to the Editor. If called to do so this individual will have a hard time addressing their actions before an ethics review panel.

At this same coffee shop round table a discussion took place in regards to anonymous campaign contributions. In regards to the Political Contributions to the Footprints for the Future it was discussed that there were two anonymous campaign contributions. One in the amount of $100 and one in the amount of $200. IN TEXAS ANY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION OVER $50 MUST BE REPORTED AND THE CONTRIBUTOR MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY NAME. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS!

Any loans received by the PAC have to be reported as well. It is reported that the report shows more expenses than contributions. Who has loaned the money to address the shortage? It appears the appropriate campaign finance reports for the PAC have not been filed timely and in proper manner according to folks in attendance at the coffee shop round table. The campaign treasurer of this organization is responsible for the reports and is subject to fines for failure to follow the campaign finance laws.