On February 2, 2015 the Texas Ethics Commission acknowledged receipt of a sworn complaint alleging multiple violations of the Texas Election Code by Texas Rep. Alfonso “Poncho” Nevarez of Eagle Pass.
The complaint alleges “Panic Button Poncho”:
- accepted multiple political contributions from corporations and labor organizations prohibited by sections 253.003 and 253.094 of the Texas Election Code,
- did not properly disclose on multiple campaign finance reports total political contributions maintained as required by 253.031 of the Texas Election Code,
- did not properly disclose on multiple campaign finance reports political contributions, political loans and political expenditures as required by section 254. 031 of the Texas Election Code and 20.61 and 20.62 of the Ethics Commission Rules,
- did not disclose on multiple campaign finance reports the principal occupation and job title and full name of the employer of each individual from whom he accepted political contributions that in the aggregate exceeded $500 during the reporting period as required by 254.0611 ( a ) 2 of the Election Code and
- converted political funds to personal use which is prohibited by section 253.035 of the Election Code.
Panic Button Poncho gained notoriety when The Open Carry Tarrant County group, led by Kory Watkins, visited the offices of several state lawmakers to try to persuade legislators to approve House Bill 195. The measure calls for overturning Texas’ 125-year ban on the open carry of handguns. Texas already allows for the open carry of shotguns and rifles.
Panicked lawmakers in the House added a rule that would permit the installation of Department of Public Safety (DPS) panic buttons in member offices inside the capital building that has an EZ Pass lane for legislators, staff and visitors holding a concealed carry license.
Concealed handgun license holders walk through a special lane marked “CHL Access” around, and not through, the metal detectors put in place last year after a man fired shots outside the statehouse.
State Sen. Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican and one of the state’s more than 460,000 concealed handgun license holders, said he carries his gun at the Capitol nearly all the time
Panic Button Poncho and those chicken little legislators–meh.