Good morning –

Despite the widespread agreement of voters and taxpayers, the Texas Legislature has failed to ban this "sinful and tyrannical" practice. 

What is it? It's the focus of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Monday, January 13, 2020
Modify your email preferences.

Quote-Unquote 

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

• The existence of taxpayer-funded lobbying means that taxpayers are literally forced to fund their legislative opposition.
      
• Grassroots conservatives across Texas worked to dedicate a plank of the Texas GOP platform expressing their opposition. Plank #217 reads: “We urge that the Texas Legislature enact legislation that prohibits tax-funded contract lobbying.”

• Despite GOP majorities in both chambers, legislation banning the practice did not become law in 2019. A ban did pass the Senate. However, 85 members of the 150-member Texas House voted against the pro-taxpayer position – including nearly two dozen Republicans.
      
• Those Republicans included: Steve Allison, Trent Ashby,  Ernest Bailes, Keith Bell, Travis Clardy, Drew Darby, Dan Flynn, Todd Hunter, Kyle Kacal, Ken King, Stan Lambert, Lyle Larson, Chris Paddie, Tan Parker, John Raney, John Smithee, Phil Stephenson, Lynn Stuckey, Gary VanDeaver, and John Zerwas
   
• According to State Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville), “$41 million was spent by local governments to hire lobbyists in 2017.”
   
• “However, the real cost is more than that; if taxpayer-funded lobbyists continue to be successful in killing property tax caps, taxpayers will be on the hook for an additional $8.7 billion in property taxes by 2024 according to a study by Governor Abbott. This practice must end.” – State Rep. Middleton
        
• As Middleton has pointed out, much of the money spent by government to lobby government went toward efforts contrary to the interests of their own constituents. Lobbyists hired with taxpayer dollars worked against common sense legislative reforms like limiting property taxes.
       
• Another form of taxpayer-funded lobbying is done through public agency associations like the Texas Municipal League, Texas Association of Counties, and many sub-affiliates. Unaccountable to voters, these groups shield the elected officials in their membership from the consequences of bad policy. 
           
• Legislation was passed at the end of the session which included a requirement that local governments disclose taxpayer-funded lobbying agreements they have entered into “prominently on the political subdivision’s internet website.”
   
• Is your city following the law? Check your various local government websites and find out.

• Join me in wishing a (belated) Sunday birthday to Texas Right to Life’s Jim Graham!

Texas State Lawmakers