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Good morning!

With the legislative session set to begin in less than 50 days, today’s Texas Minute looks at a longtime priority of taxpayers and conservatives that has been stymied for years by the GOP leadership in the Texas House.

The issue, of course, is taxpayer-funded lobbying – the practice by which your tax dollars are used to fund your opposition.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Monday, Nov. 21, 2022

But First… Last Chance!Ticket sales end today for the Conservative Leader Awards dinner [[link removed]] in Irving. Other organizations give baubles and trinkets to politicians; Texas Scorecard honors citizen-leaders by presenting them with engraved cavalry swords.

We hope you will join us honoring them on Saturday, Dec. 3, in Irving. Learn more and get your tickets now [[link removed]]! Using Your Money Against You

The attitude of city, school, and county officials toward taxpayers was summed up in the title of a presentation at the 2019 conference of the Texas Municipal League: “ Shaking The Money Tree [[link removed]].” They want unfettered access to your wallet, and they will use your own money to block legislation empowering taxpayers.

That presentation was made by TML’s legislative counsel, Bill Longley. And don’t forget, TML is funded almost entirely with your money.

Only one city councilman had the courage to speak out publicly about the closed-door, confidential briefing.

“While taxpayers across the state are being forced out of their homes by rising property taxes, Texas Municipal League, the leading advocate for taxpayer-funded lobbying and opponent of property tax reform, sees them as little more than a never-ending source of revenue to be shaken down even further.” – Corsicana City Councilman Chris Woolsey

If your city is a member of the Texas Municipal League – and almost every city is – then you are involuntarily funding your own political opposition in the Texas Legislature. (It is a triple-whammy: Cities join TML with your money, which TML uses to lobby against pro-taxpayer positions, and then city officials – elected and unelected alike – attend the organization’s conferences on your dime where they learn how to squeeze more money from your wallet.)

In 2020, more than 94 percent [[link removed]] of Republican voters supported a non-binding ballot question banning taxpayer-funded lobbying.

This is why the refusal of the Texas House to pass an outright ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying in 2021 was considered such a betrayal of taxpayers.

While the ban passed the Texas Senate last year, the measure was gutted and then killed in the House. Jeramy Kitchen wrote a detailed “ autopsy report [[link removed]]” on the issue shortly after the 2021 legislative session concluded.

New Hope For A Ban?

In advance of the 2023 legislative session, State Sen.-elect Mayes Middleton [[link removed]] (R-Wallisville) filed Senate Bill 175 [[link removed]] to prohibit public funds from being used to hire registered lobbyists.

“For too long, your hard-earned tax dollars have been diverted to the pockets of Austin lobbyists that then lobby against both parents and taxpayers.” – Mayes Middleton

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who serves as president of the Senate, has already pledged [[link removed]] to again pass the ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying.

The legislative session begins on January 10, 2023. Where does your state representative stand on the issue? Call and ask! [[link removed]]

Number of the Day

$140,744,327

The amount of money spent during the last two years by taxing entities in Texas on lobbyists in the state capitol.

[Source: TransparencyUSA.org]

Quote-Unquote

“To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”

– Thomas Jefferson​

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Your State Lawmakers

The districts displayed here should reflect those redrawn by the Legislature. Though the new lines do not take representational effect until 2023, they appeared on the 2022 ballot. The election results are not yet incorporated into the directory.

Governor of Texas [[link removed]]

Greg Abbott (R)

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor [[link removed]]

Dan Patrick (R)

(512) 463-0001

Texas Senate [[link removed]], District

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Texas House [[link removed]], District

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Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

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Produced by Michael Quinn Sullivan and Brandon Waltens, the Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is delivered weekday mornings (though we'll take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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