Harris County commissioners have voted to delay ethics reforms --- requirements such as putting campaign donations online and maintaining a public list of lobbyists. The delay, writes the Chronicle's Liz Austin Peterson, could push any reform past this legislative session (the next one is in 2011.)

Background from the Chronicle:

The recommendations were prepared by a five-member task force that (County Judge Ed) Emmett appointed a year ago as a wave of ethics controversies in county government became an issue in the Republican primary campaign. The scandals dominated the general election campaign, as well, with Democrat David Mincberg accusing Emmett of fostering a “culture of corruption” since he took office in early 2007

Peterson writes that Commissioner El Franco Lee asked county lawyers for more legal analysis, even though the former county attorney had already analyzed the measure.

What's even more puzzling is that Lee is the one who asked the former county attorney to weigh in, back in October.

It seems that the more information the commissioners get about the ethics plan, the more they dislike it and and the public accountability it would bring.