The Associated Press

AUSTIN—The Texas Ethics Commission is considering a recommendation that would make politicians pay fines themselves when they break rules on campaign finance, rather than having political donors pick up the tab.

“If you’re paying a fine with someone else’s money, there is no personal accountability,” Ross Fischer, an ethics commissioner in charge of drafting recommendations to the Legislature, said in a story in Saturday’s Austin American-Statesman. “When I talk to the public, that offends them more than anything.”

The idea was included Friday in a draft copy of recommendations, which also included a suggestion that lawmakers decide how to address bloggers paid by or affiliated with campaigns.

The public is invited to comment on the recommendations, which will be finalized at the commission’s December meeting, before the Legislature convenes in January.

Raymond “Tripp” Davenport III, a commission member and former chairman, first suggested that candidates and officeholders pay their own fines.

“It should be punitive in nature, and it’s not,” Davenport said. “I want to create a disincentive to breaking the rules.”

Most fines against candidates or officeholders are relatively small—a few hundred or a couple thousand dollars, depending on the offense. But the commission in recent months has begun levying larger fines, specifically in cases involving more money.

This summer, Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, paid a $17,300 fine for improperly reimbursing himself with campaign money.

“It’s a steep hill,” said Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, who has seen some of his efforts at campaign finance reform end at the Capitol. “It’s going to pass when the public forces the Legislature to do it, which I hope they do.”