Texas Needs Ethics Reform: Bill White

The Democratic candidate for governor, Bill White, says Texas needs ethics reform.

White says if he's elected, senior staff members in the governor's office will be required to file personal financial statements every year. If they leave, they'll be banned from lobbying the governor's office for two years. Perry's office does not have similar policies.

White, a former Houston mayor, also says e-mails and other records in the governor's office will be preserved.

White says 42 of Gov. Rick Perry's appointees to boards or other positions each have contributed $100,000 to Perry. White says appointments should be based on experience instead of connections or contributions.

He discussed his ethics reform plan Wednesday in Fort Worth. White is trying to stop Perry from being elected to an unprecedented third full four-year term.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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