Lawmaker fined $10k by ethics panel

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lawmakers make the laws. The question is, do they follow them all to the letter?

State Rep. Ron Reynolds of Missouri City, who last month was named "Freshman of the Year" by his fellow Democrats, puts that question to the test.

A KXAN News investigation shows that as of June 1, Reynolds owed the Texas Ethics Commission nearly $10,260 in fines relating to failure to file the required financial disclosure reports required of candidates for public office and officeholders.

The Texas Attorney General's Office took Reynolds to court to collect the fines, and the lawmakers now owes the AG $2,500, plus interest, in court costs, the investigations shows.

The outstanding debt has prompted the Texas Comptroller's Office to issue what's called on a "warrant hold" on Reynolds, which effectively means the state his garnishing the expense reimbursement checks related to his service as a lawmaker.

Since March, the state has been able to recover only $2,151.40.

Reynolds has not been in the House chamber this week to take part in the ongoing special legislative session. And he had not responded to repeated requests for an interview.

But several of the House Democrats who honored him as their top freshman, were shocked at what the investigation turned up.

And the head of a leading watchdog group that pushes for greater government accountability said failure to provide required financial disclosure breaks faith with the public.

“Texans have a right to see where their legislators get their campaign money, and we also have a right to see where legislators get their pocket money,” said Craig McDonald of Texans For Public Justice. “This is the single most effective tool we have to determine whether any legislator has a conflict of interest."

Reynolds, an attorney and a former municipal judge, also failed to submit his annual Personal Financial Statement to the Texas Ethics Commission.

Since Reynolds first ran for office in 2008, he’s missed numerous financial disclosure deadlines, KXAN's investigation showed.

He failed to submit his Personal Financial Statement for 2008, 2010 and 2011. He was not required to file on in 2009 because he was not a candidate or elected official for that year.

Failure to file a Personal Financial Statement is a Class B Misdemeanor. If convicted, the penalty is up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.

In addition, the Texas Election Code prohibits any state candidate for state office from accepting contributions or making expenditures until a campaign treasurer report is filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Records obtained through the Texas Public Information Act show The Texas Ethics Commission voted to terminate Reynolds' campaign treasure appointment, effective May 16, 2009.

Reynolds didn’t file a new appointment until Jan. 19. In the meantime, he raised $129,914 and spent $110,484 in campaign funds . Violating the Election Code regarding raising or spending funds without a campaign treasurer appointment is a Class A Misdemeanor. If convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor, the penalty is up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $4,000 or both.

The investigation also show that a Federal Tax Lien filed against Reynolds in Fort Bend County indicating that he owes the Internal Revenue Service $59,122. Court filings also show Reynolds and his law firm own $10,466.56 plus interest on a debt to Martindale-Hubble.

Reynolds' law firm, Brown, Brown & Reynolds, is listed as being in Tax Forfeiture by the Secretary of State’s office, effective Dec. 10.

Records filed at the Secretary of State’s office shows other entities involving Reynolds were involuntarily dissolved or forfeited because the credit card used to pay the fee was declined.