Embattled House Speaker Dade Phelan has announced that he is appointing a taxpayer-funded casino lobbyist as his new chief of staff.
Mike Toomey, a former Texas House member, previously served as chief of staff to former Governors Bill Clements and Rick Perry. He is currently a partner at Texas Lobby Group.
“Mike is a storied titan of Texas politics, and his impressive experience in both the public and private sectors—combined with a legendary work ethic and reputation as a seasoned strategist—make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our team,” Phelan said in a press release.
According to Transparency USA, Toomey has earned between $3.4 and $6.7 million this session lobbying members of the state legislature. One of his largest clients is the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which seeks to bring casino gambling to Texas.
Toomey has also represented Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a group that was involved in pushing for Phelan’s impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton last year. Additionally, he has served as a taxpayer-funded lobbyist for public entities such as the City of San Antonio, Harris County Commissioners, and the Port of Houston Authority. Notably, under Speaker Phelan’s leadership, legislation to end taxpayer-funded lobbying has never reached the floor for a vote.
While Phelan will remain Speaker of the House until the next session begins in January, sources within the Capitol are doubtful that he will be re-elected to the position.
Toomey replaces Enrique Marquez, who is leaving Phelan’s office.
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