HOUSTON – Channel 2 Investigates first introduced viewers to Jim Murphy in February.
Murphy is a Republican state representative who also was the general manager of the Westchase District. Our series of reports exposed Murphy collecting two taxpayer funded paychecks. The reports sparked a House Ethics Commission hearing in Austin and also prompted the committee chairwoman, Rep. Sarah Davis, to request an opinion from the state attorney general.
Those requests were due Tuesday.
At the 11th hour, Davis got her response: "We did receive a letter saying that they needed more time."
Channel 2 Investigates revealed Murphy claimed to be an independent contractor while routinely collecting two taxpayer funded checks: one for his job as a legislator, the other as GM for Westchase. Contracts Channel 2 Investigates obtained reveal Murphy was being paid over $312,00 a year plus bonuses for securing state funding for Westchase projects.
Murphy told Channel 2 Investigates, “I don’t work for free,” while admitting being paid bonuses.
The business district that pays Murphy all that money also bleeds into the legislative district he represents. The arrangement had many asking, who is he truly representing, the people who elected him or the agency paying his big salary?
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who sits on the same side of the aisle as Murphy, said the following after our initial reports: "I've never seen anything like this."
Noted Texas ethical lawyer Buck Wood said, "Under that contract he is being retained as a lobbyist whether he likes it or not."
Davis said back in February, "I think it's definitely something we are going to be taking a look at."
True to her word, the House Ethics Committee held a hearing on what we uncovered. Ultimately, Davis asked Attorney General Ken Paxton for a legal opinion on whether a legislator can also lobby. AG opinions are routinely presented within 180 days but the AG's office asked for more time.
Davis said that's encouraging, "They could have just sent a letter saying that they were going to not release an opinion whatsoever. So the fact that they said that they just needed more time means that we are still anticipating hearing from the attorney general.”
Davis said regardless of the election results next Tuesday, the opinion process will continue.
Channel 2 Investigates did reach out to Murphy for comment. He has yet to respond.