Longview Times

Many Texans oppose taxpayer-funded lobbying, prompting one lawmaker to question hundreds of cities, counties and school districts on their lobbying expenditures.

Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) sent letters to school districts and the municipalities, including Chief Financial Office Mary Brown, of Hallsville Independent School District, in late November, requesting the lobbying expenditure information. 

In response to Middleton, Brown included the school's budget, including a highlighted line item showing $150 spent on lobbying.

Longview Times received no response from Brown after repeated inquiries regarding Hallsville ISD's membership in any organization that pays dues for lobbying efforts.

Middleton and Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) filed lobbying bills last week – HB 740 and SB 234, respectively – to ban taxpayer revenue from being used for lobbyists to advocate against legislation that could benefit Texas homeowners.

Last year, Middleton filed a similar bill that was defeated.

Data from Middleton's office shows up to $41 million annually is spent by local governments on Austin lobbyists, East Houston News reported.

“Taxpayer-funded lobbyists have opposed property tax relief, election integrity, disclosures of what bonds truly cost taxpayers, the constitutional ban on a state income tax, and they even opposed the bill to fund and protect our teacher’s retirement pensions,” Middleton told East Houston News. “Taxpayers are forced to pay for lobbyists that lobby against their best interests. Taxpayer-funded lobbying is a modern practice and a bad one.”

The Texas Public Policy Foundation last year released a poll that found nearly nine out of 10 Texans, or 88%, oppose allocating tax dollars to pay lobbyists.