Can Austin end cronyism?

For a state Legislature that has never made ethics much of a priority, it’s hardly insignificant that the new governor has identified ethics reform as a top item on his policy agenda.

In fact, it’s an emergency, says Gov. Greg Abbott.

And in light of the lingering contract scandals at the state’s massive health agency, and the not-so-distant memory of transparency problems with former Gov. Rick Perry’s now infamous incentive funds, it would be hard to disagree.

Making good on a promise made during Tuesday’s State of the State address, Abbott issued a proclamation on Friday declaring ethics reform — along with early childhood education, higher education research initiatives, border security funding and transportation funding — an issue requiring the immediate attention of policymakers in Austin.

“Let’s dedicate this session to ethics,” Abbott implored his audience of lawmakers near the conclusion of his speech.

The polite applause was telling, probably because corruption, cronyism and questionable state contracts have become all too commonplace in the corridors of the statehouse.

With the help of two legislators, Abbott hopes to change that. He has tapped state Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, and state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-River Oaks, to spearhead the effort to pass his Blueprint ethics reforms.

According to a press release from Taylor’s office, those reforms will center on three crucial areas: anti-corruption, transparency and disclosure, and terminating conflicts of interest.

Practically speaking, the reforms would entail small but significant changes, like requiring elected officials to disclose contracts they have with public entities, prohibiting lawmakers from voting on legislation from which they could profit, revoking taxpayer-funded benefits and immediately ejecting from office elected officials convicted of a felony, shedding more light on lobby-paid benefits given to lawmakers and increasing campaign finance disclosure.

Many of these reforms seem like commonsense policies that people in positions of public trust should have been following long ago.

At least now ethics reform has a champion in the governor’s mansion — so long as Abbott can live up to his pledge.

This story was originally published February 20, 2015 at 7:33 PM with the headline "Can Austin end cronyism?."