Whitmire to pay penalty over campaign violations

HOUSTON The commission determined the Democrat improperly filled out campaign finance reports in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for some individuals who contributed more than $500.

The Houston Chronicle reports the ethics panel issued the ruling last week and Whitmire agreed to pay a $3,400 civil penalty.

Whitmire chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

The lawmaker in 2008 was the target of threatening phone calls from a death row inmate using a smuggled cell phone. The calls prompted a lockdown of Texas prisons and crackdown on contraband.