The resolution authorizing the city to engage in lobbying the Texas Legislature on the city's behalf passed 7-0 with very little discussion. In fact, if not for your fearless blogger who attended the council meeting and demanded the opportunity to publicly speak against the resolution, it would have been passed with zero public input. Isn't transparency wonderful?
After making arguments against the resolution similar to those in prior posts, councilman Fought opined that the legislature may do something against the interest of the city and therefore the city needed to be there to protect against that action. Nothing was said that such effort by the city may be detrimental to many of the city citizens.
Mayor Ross chimed in with the observation that the city utilities and airport are businesses and are run as such. Therefore they need to keep contracts secret. If that is true, why is the city running businesses? Shouldn't they be spun-off to private enterprise? He further stated the city was in compliance with state law. He did not address why state law should not be changed to provide more transparency.
Its time to support Senator Konni Burton's bill, SB 241, to stop local governments from spending taxpayer dollars on lobbying.
GT the TML and all cities need a much shorter leash be fore we are all bankrupt.
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