Speaker Straus Appoints Rep. Nevárez to Committee to Study Ethics Laws

AUSTIN – Texas House Speaker Joe Straus today made appointments to the Select Interim Committee to Study Ethics Laws including Representative Poncho Nevárez of District 74. Its purpose is to review laws and regulations related to ethics, such as those focused on campaign finance, lobbying and personal finance disclosures. The other four members of the committee, including the other co-chair, are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

“Sound ethics laws can help build and maintain public confidence in government,” Speaker Straus said. “I trust the members of this committee to give those laws a thorough review and recommend ways to make our system more transparent and accountable to citizens.”

Rep. Sarah Davis of Houston will co-chair the Select Interim Committee to Study Ethics Laws. Speaker Straus also appointed Reps. Reps. Ken King of Canadian and Poncho Nevárez of Eagle Pass to the committee, as well as Austin attorney Ross Fischer. Fischer is Chairman of the Legislative and Campaign Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and is a former Chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission.

“The review of our state’s Ethics Laws is no small chore,” Nevárez states. “I appreciate Speaker Straus allowing me to play a role in this endeavor and I look forward to serving with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate.” This is the second select committee Representative Nevárez has been appointed to by the Speaker of the House. Back in June, he was appointed to the Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives which assesses the economic benefit provided by the state and local incentive programs.