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The Homestead: Keeping Texas Texan

Who does government represent? You may think it represents you, the citizen — and you, the people. That’s the right answer. That’s who our government is supposed to represent. Reality, though, falls short of the ideal. When governments lobby government, using the people’s money, then something has gone very wrong.

In Texas, it happens all the time.

The practice — taxpayer-funded lobbying — allows “cities, counties, school districts, and special districts spend public money to hire professional lobbyists to engage in the legislative process ([link removed] ) ."

With a price tag of $41 million in 2017, this practice is an affront to Texas taxpayers. That’s $41 million of YOUR taxpayer dollars spent to lobby your elected officials <— who you elect to represent your voice.

The bottom line? Lobbyists know how to work the system, while the average Texan does not.

That’s why our #1 Legislative Action Item is to BAN this practice.

Texans want this to happen. In March 2020, a supermajority — 94.29% — of Texas Republican primary voters supported the ban.

Plano Councilman Shelby Williams created a pledge to end this practice and is encouraging lawmakers throughout the state to sign on. Check if your representatives have signed on to the pledge: [link removed] ([link removed] )

TPPF’s Government for the People campaign is tracking related legislation and leading the fight on this issue. Stay connected, consider joining their newsletter: texaspolicy.com/newsletters ([link removed] )

For Texas,

Joshua Treviño

This week in Texas history: On February 1st, 1882, building commissioners turned the first shovelful of dirt for the present Texas Capitol. The main building material is red granite from Granite Mountain, west of Austin.

Texas Public Policy Foundation, 901 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, United States, 5124722700

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