The Public Integrity Unit investigates public corruption statewide, but since its run out of the Travis County's District Attorney's office - which tends to be run by a Democrat - Republicans in statewide office have attempted to control it.
Senate Bill 10 would move it to the Texas Attorney General's office, which may make it less likely to investigate state office holders. That's the concern of critics anyway.
Here's content on the controversy:
- Tribpedia: Public Integrity Unit.
- Wikipedia: Ronnie Earle.
- Texas Legislature Online: SB 10.
- Interview with Rice prof Mark Jones.
- Bill to move Public Integrity Unit stalled in Senate.
Update: Analysis: Moving Integrity Unit Won't Curb Conflicts.
Some state lawmakers are unhappy with the public integrity unit, which is housed in the Travis County district attorney’s office. They want to take its state money away and give some other office the job of prosecuting state officials for ethics and campaign finance violations. Republicans, who control state government and therefore are more likely these days to be charged with corrupting it, contend the Travis County gang is packed with Democrats who have partisan motives for their prosecutions. When Democrats ruled the land, their rap was that the Travis County gang was trying to undermine anyone in state politics who wasn’t part of the Travis County gang.
Maybe they were all correct and the unit ought to be moved. Relocation of it is front and center this legislative session.
But relocation is like putting someone new into the dunking booth: It’s difficult to remain independent while policing the same public officials who provide your funding. It is hard to justify spending on independent prosecutors when you think those prosecutors are not doing their jobs.
Moving the unit simply means lawmakers can get mad at someone else for a while.
