Austin Police have been wrongly spending money seized during the course of investigations – violating state and federal laws governing the way those dollars can be used. Who called in the budget cops? Austin’s own chief of police.

State Rep. Herbert Vo is being accused of accepting illegal corporate campaign contributions. The Democratic state representative from Houston allegedly got a company to offer discount coupons on clothes when someone gave money to his campaign. Right about now Mr. Vo should be looking for a “15% off your next legal bill” coupon.

On Tuesday, Austinites can attend a forum on the design of a new $1.25 million BMX/skate park that was approved by voters as part of a larger bond in 2006. Meanwhile, the town of Tomball is considering spending $4 to $12 million in taxpayer funds on a sports arena, which would have many features provided by private gyms like Liftetime Fitness at no cost to taxpayers.

A Dallas Morning News editorial today indicates that proposals for new taxes to fund rail expansion have gone beyond the 1 cent sales tax increase to include a bevy of additional options, such as significant increases in the fuel tax and vehicle registration fee, as well as a “new resident impact fee” that would add $100 to the vehicle registration fee for each new North Texas resident.

Temple’s taxpayers must be looking forward to a Tyroch-free city council, with attendant possibility of lower taxes. But the rest of us still have cause for worry. As a member of the city council, she raised taxes and grew spending repeatedly, and unnecessarily. Any guesses what she’ll do in the Legislature if she wins next month’s special election?

If nothing else, the House District 112 run-off race may prove to be entertaining. Conservative leader Randy Dunning is facing moderate-to-liberal Angie Button. And, it seems, Angie is hard at work demonstrating why she isn’t qualified for the post.

Liberal Republican Pat Haggerty is now a former state representative — thanks to his horrible record. He beat himself by constantly subjecting his constituency to higher taxes, more spending, and a host of bad ideas. Haggerty’s election-night party at the Titanic Ball Room proved to prophetic; his ship is sunk.

In what we hope might be the most appropriate election night party imaginable, El Paso Republican Pat Haggerty is having his at the “Titanic Ballroom.” No, I’m not making this up. Brandi Grissom of the El Paso Times noted this little bit of irony up on her blog this afternoon.

Unsettling, if not unexpected, news from the world of mass transit. It seems that not only is the Austin passenger train system costing more than expected, but it just might kill you.