Why did the upcoming trial of Dawnna Dukes, longtime Austin Democrat state representative, shift from a trial on felony indictments to merely misdemeanors? Turns out that management in the House of Representatives is behind such; incompetent management.
“Prosecutors say they learned Sept. 6 that Steven Adrian, executive director of the House Business Office, informed Dukes’ attorneys in January that his office does not require a House member to travel to the Capitol building in order to receive per diem payments when the Legislature is not in session. But, according to prosecutors, Adrian said the opposite in 2016 when he told an investigator with the state auditor’s office that Dukes had to travel to the Capitol to earn the reimbursement, $61.50 per day,” reported the Austin American-Statesman.
According to the Statesman’s reporters “Prosecutors filed a motion for continuance in state District Court on Tuesday, saying Adrian’s latest statement “necessitates further investigation” that cannot be completed in time for trial.”
“Prosecutors said they learned about Adrian’s contradictory statement when they visited with him two weeks ago to prepare for trial. In a sworn affidavit, he had told Dukes’ legal team that she did not need to be at the Capitol to qualify for reimbursement because House District 46, which she represents, is within 50 miles of the building,” the paper reported.
So it turns out that the executive director of the House Business Office who has worked for the House in this position since 1996 doesn’t even know his body’s own rules.
I guess the Straus regime has done as little to improve the quality of House management as it has in pushing a Republican agenda.
Texas House management cause of Rep. Dukes’ prosecution delay
Robert Pratt
Why did the upcoming trial of Dawnna Dukes, longtime Austin Democrat state representative, shift from a trial on felony indictments to merely misdemeanors? Turns out that management in the House of Representatives is behind such; incompetent management.
“Prosecutors say they learned Sept. 6 that Steven Adrian, executive director of the House Business Office, informed Dukes’ attorneys in January that his office does not require a House member to travel to the Capitol building in order to receive per diem payments when the Legislature is not in session. But, according to prosecutors, Adrian said the opposite in 2016 when he told an investigator with the state auditor’s office that Dukes had to travel to the Capitol to earn the reimbursement, $61.50 per day,” reported the Austin American-Statesman.
According to the Statesman’s reporters “Prosecutors filed a motion for continuance in state District Court on Tuesday, saying Adrian’s latest statement “necessitates further investigation” that cannot be completed in time for trial.”
“Prosecutors said they learned about Adrian’s contradictory statement when they visited with him two weeks ago to prepare for trial. In a sworn affidavit, he had told Dukes’ legal team that she did not need to be at the Capitol to qualify for reimbursement because House District 46, which she represents, is within 50 miles of the building,” the paper reported.
So it turns out that the executive director of the House Business Office who has worked for the House in this position since 1996 doesn’t even know his body’s own rules.
I guess the Straus regime has done as little to improve the quality of House management as it has in pushing a Republican agenda.