Mike Ward of the Austin American-Statesman had this exclusive story today about convicted felon and South Texas Rep. Kino Flores: He can still draw his pay. Until Jan. 11, at least.
Flores, D-Palmview, was sentenced to five years' probation, a $1,000 fine and 40 hours of community service on felony ethics charges, for not properly disclosing his income. But there's no law or rule preventing convicted felons from serving in the Texas House. So he can still draw his $600 a month salary as a legislator, per diem reimbursements and legislative benefits.
That Flores is still on the payroll alarms some government watchdog groups.
Earlier this year, Dallas Rep. Terri Hodge, another veteran Democrat, resigned before she was sentenced to a year in federal prison. Giving up her House seat was part of Hodge's deal, in which she pleaded guilty to not paying taxes on $74,000 in income, including what prosecutors in the City Hall corruption case said was more than $32,000 in bribes.
In Flores' case, though, Travis County prosecutors in a public ethics unit have said one reason they didn't ask him to give up his House seat is they want him to file amended financial disclosure reports with the Texas Ethics Commission -- and if he is no longer in office, he might not have to do that.
Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/12/flores-a-felon-keeps-drawing-h.html
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