AUSTIN – The leaders of the Texas Legislature appear to be unwilling or unable to hire a state auditor, an unprecedented situation that has deprived residents of their most powerful government watchdog for more than a year.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus, who share responsibility for filling the position, have not acted since longtime Auditor John Keel stepped down in early January of 2016, records show. The Texas State Auditor’s Office has continued to operate, but it has not had a formal leader, and it is preparing for the possibility of not having one for the entirety of this year’s legislative session.
Source: Texas leaders appear unable to find a new state auditor HOUSTON CHRONICLE