It happened again. The Harris County Commissioners Court has re-referred an ethics reform proposal, which would require lobbyists to register with the county, to the county attorney's office.

From The Houston Chronicle:

The move could delay action on the reform plan for weeks or months, depending on how quickly the county attorney's office completes the study. It took the office about a month and a half to analyze the task force's proposal and determine what items the court could adopt without legislative approval. The plan did not appear on the agenda for another month and a half after that analysis was released.

Sure, the attorney's office said that most recommendations would have to get legislative approval--like the bit about lobbyists registering with the county. But the office also said the court could adopt other recommendations immediately, including making campaign finance reports searchable online.

So what gives?

The commissioners continue to play Doubting Thomas. According to the Chronicle, Commissioner El Franco Lee wants the attorney's office to produce a side-by-side comparison of current state ethics law and task force recommendations:

"Let's give the (county attorney) the opportunity to give back to us an analysis of what the cause and effect of all these pieces are."

Cause and effect? It doesn't sound like the task force was chasing windmills, and even one commissioner--Sylvia Garcia--recommended the court go ahead and voluntarily adopt some of the reforms. But apparently the other commissioners weren't game.

Judge Ed Emmett remains optimistic:

"The truth of the matter is, the Legislature meets in January. So, as long as we get there in time for January, we'll be fine."

The truth of the matter is also: stuff can and should be getting done, yet officials continue to unnecessarily put off reform.

(Picture by flickr user mackz, used via the Creative Commons license.)