Capital Highlights A summary of the week's significant events in Austin
State's top ethics cop announces retirement
Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

Ed Sterling is director of member services for the Texas Press Association in Austin.

A USTIN - Travis County District Attorney Ronnie

Earle, the state's chief

ethics cop, will serve out his term of office, which expires at the end of 2008, but not a day more,

Earle, on Dec. 14, announced his decision not to seek reelection. The 65-year-old Democrat will have served 32 years when his term expires.

In a prepared statement, Earle said, "There are particular cases pending that are enormously important to this state, this country, and democracy itself. If they are not resolved during the forthcoming last year of my term, I will offer my assistance on those matters on a pro bono basis to my successor."

Among those pending cases are indictments against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Republican political fund-raisers John Colyandro and Jim Ellis. Panel hears NFL-cable spat

The House Committee on Regulated Industries met Dec. 10 and heard testimony in a dispute between cable interests and the National Football League Network.

At issue were whether cable customers should be charged extra for access to NFLgames and if the Texas Legislature should have any say-so in how the dispute is handled.

NFLCommissioner Roger Goodell and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke for the NFLNetwork.

Jones said his side is against "big" cable companies that desire to put professional football games on a separate, higher-costing tier. Goodell added that fans might have to pay as much as $8 per month to watch games only available on the higher tier if certain cable companies get their way.

Goodell also said he would like the NFLNetwork and the cable industry to enter a negotiated settlement.

Representatives of the Texas Cable Association countered that cable packages are governed by the Federal Cable Act, and therefore the Federal Communications Commission, not the state, has jurisdiction in the issue.

Ernest Young, a law professor with University of Texas, represented the NFLat the hearing. He said there is precedent for the Texas Legislature to intervene as an alternative to litigation.

At the end of the hearing, committee chair Phil King, RWeatherford, said he was not convinced the state has jurisdiction.

Online, mail order tax is closer

Texas and a coalition of other states are closer to agreement on a set of sales tax laws to help state and local governments receive sales tax revenue from online and mail order sales.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said the "Streamlined Sales Tax" governing board on Dec. 13 unanimously approved a compromise allowing

Texas and other sales tax-dependent states to continue taxing intrastate sales at the rate in effect at the seller's location, but to tax interstate sales at the rate in effect where the merchandise is delivered.

"In fiscal 2006, Texas lost an estimated $541 million in state sales tax on Internet and mail order sales," Combs said. "We must monitor and fix this leak." DPS labs receive accreditation

The Texas Department of Public Safety reported its 13 crime laboratories, after years of evaluation, have received international accreditation.

The DPS laboratories are located in Austin, Garland, Houston, El Paso, Waco, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Tyler, Lubbock, Midland, Abilene, Amarillo and Laredo.

Only three other state police laboratories in the U.S. have received international accreditation: Oregon, Utah and Idaho.

State returns Crockett letter

The Texas Historical Commission announced Dec. 7 it would return a letter said to be the last one written by David Crockett.

Simpson Galleries in Houston offered the letter to the State of Texas for $490,000 with 120 days to decide whether to purchase it.

The state decided not to, after putting the letter through forensic analysis by a private North Carolina firm.

The analysis failed to confirm the document's authenticity.