Legislator Against Taxpayer Funded Lobbying

Here is a Texas Legislator who has experienced lobbying funded by taxpayers and he thinks it is time to ban the practice.Briscoe Cain Op Ed

A taxpayer-funded lobbying ban does not stop our city council members, mayors, county commissioners, and county judges from themselves advocating in front of the Texas Legislature. If a local official wants to oppose property tax reform, let them publicly go on record and not hide behind a contract with a lobbyist.

Currently, a Texan is forced to check the Texas Ethics Commission website for lobbying registrations, find what lobbyist their city or county has hired, and then search each piece of legislation for what position that lobbyist has taken in a committee hearing. It’s a game of “connect the dots” that still provides cover for the local official when they run for re-election and promise that they have the best interests of the taxpayer in mind. 

Representative Mayes Middleton added an amendment to Senate Bill 65 to shine light on the lobbying records of school districts, cities, and counties.

Senate Bill 65 requires that these contracts be posted on the government entity’s website. Unfortunately, not many of our cities, counties, or school districts are in compliance. I also want to note that none of these records would include the lobbying work that goes on away from committee hearings and the public record.

The time is now for the Texas Legislature to empower the taxpayer in front of their state and local government. During the 87th Texas Legislature, I know many of my colleagues and I will be focused on passing a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying. I only hope that our fellow legislators are ready to start listening to their constituents and pass this important piece of legislation.