Public accountability
Officials of Texas Councils of Government are not helping their
public image by fighting state oversight of the millions of state
and federal taxpayer dollars that they distribute.
It was that very lack of oversight that got the COGs into trouble
in the first place. When reports surfaced last year of money spent
at topless bars and nightclubs, at luxury resort conventions and
for spouses' travel, the Legislature couldn't wink and nod and
pretend it saw nothing.
Instead, state lawmakers came up with a list of recommendations
to give the Legislature more oversight of the councils' spending.
Because COGs handle public money, and because some COG officials
have unfortunately shown themselves to be questionable in maintaining
the public trust, the Legislature must provide for COGs' accountability
to the public. It's a little late to object to that.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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