On Monday, the Senate State Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on legislation that will bring accountability to the ways political subdivisions use taxpayer dollars on lobbying efforts.
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
Sitting Senator Hired as Tax-Funded Lobbyist
A senior member of the Senate has been hired as a lobbyist on behalf of a government board, presenting a clear conflict of interest.
Tax-Funded Lobbying: Bad Practice, Worse Agenda
One municipality’s recently approved legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session is so bad it demonstrates precisely why they should be banned from paying lobbyists with taxpayer dollars.
Property Tax Burdens Per Texan Are Up 50% Since 1992
State lawmakers beholden to local governments and their tax-funded lobbyists have opposed efforts by conservatives to limit property tax increases and empower taxpayers.
Burton: Why I Oppose Tax-Funded Lobbying
The Colleyville Senator penned a poignant op-ed stating why the fundamentally anti-taxpayer practice should be abolished.
Local Debt Continues to Skyrocket
Texas’ local debt epidemic continues to worsen at an alarming rate. In response, conservatives such as State Sen. Konni Burton (R-Colleyville) have pledged to push for debt-related reforms next legislative session. Texas has the second-highest per-capita local debt in...
San Antonio Using Annexation To Hide Problems
In the midst of severe funding crises, the City of San Antonio is hoping to annex some of its neighbors into their burdensome tax base.
Dallas Leads Texas Cities in “Hidden” Debt
The City of Dallas has been exposed for keeping billions in “hidden” debt from its financial statements. According to a recent report, Dallas currently has the third highest taxpayer burden in the nation, driven primarily by unfunded pension obligations that are held...
Government Associations Oppose Taxpayer Transparency
Government interest groups are confessing their belief that reforms aimed at providing greater fiscal transparency to voters will be harmful to local governments. Unsurprisingly, a better-informed voter makes debt-hungry governments nervous. During Wednesday’s hearing...
TML Distorts Reform to Defend Its Power
By mislabeling restrictions on government lobbying as a “gag order,” the Texas Municipal League is desperately trying to defend its gig as the anti-taxpayer lobbyists in Austin. Their opposition is specifically targeted at Rep. Matt Shaheen’s (R-Plano) HB 1257, which...