The Associated Press' Jay Root has a breakdown of the ethics reforms -- or the lack thereof -- on Texas' Capitol Hill this session. The ethics story was picked up by the Dallas Morning News this weekend.

Texas Watchdog was quoted in the story, and Root captured our frustration perfectly.

But watchdogs say the list of failures is more noteworthy than the successes. Included on the what-might-have-been list: restrictions on unregulated political attack-ads, disclosures for lawmakers who profit from government contracts and limits on taking money in state-owned buildings -- including the Texas Governor's Mansion.

The session, which began in January, ended Monday.

"The story of this year is what did not happen. And that's a tragic story," said Trent Seibert of the non-partisan group Texas Watchdog. "This is a heartbreak of a year when it comes to ethics in the Lone Star State."

One of the most sweeping reforms, aimed at stopping political attack ads fueled by unrestricted corporate and union money, passed the Texas House but never made it out of the state Senate. The sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, said special interest groups who engage in the activity fought his reform attempts.

In the story, Root also highlighted another piece of ethics legislation that legislators crushed:

The legislation was designed to shed light on Texas legislators who have a significant personal financial interest in state contracts. When the bill came up for debate in the Senate, [La Porte Republican Sen. Mike] Jackson said it would have required lawmakers to produce "just a little too much information."

The reform died in the waning days of the session.

 We hope Root continues to keep an eye on ethics at the state capitol. We know we will be doing the same.

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