State Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville), who has been advocating the banning of taxpayer-funded lobbying, watched his bill HB 749 become the last bill heard in the States Affair Committee, a hearing that stretched until the following morning.
The bill was left pending in the committee following a long list of measures that have been discussed by the committee. Witnesses and supporters waited until the bill that would prohibit taxpayer-funded lobbying was heard.
“Epic 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. hearing this morning on HB 749 to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying,” Middleton wrote on Facebook. “Grateful for everyone that took two days off work to support this bill and help in the fight to end the practice of our tax dollars going to Austin lobbyists that then lobby for higher taxes!”
As defined by Ballotpedia, taxpayer-funded lobbying is “the practice of using funds that come directly or indirectly from taxpayers for political lobbying purposes. Taxpayer-funded lobbying is one government lobbying another. ... The lobbying can be explicit, such as membership in government sector lobbying associations, or advocacy before a legislative body. The practice can be more subtle, such as school districts hosting legislators for a breakfast to create favorable relationships with legislators.”
“It is fundamentally wrong that tens of millions of dollars is spent on middlemen between elected officials and the state Legislature,” Middleton emphasized at the hearing, The Texan reported.
Taxpayer-funded lobbying has been a topic of interest in the Texas Legislature, with many causes aiming to see it banned. A Plano city councilman initiated a public pledge, hoping many Texas lawmakers would work toward a ban. The councilman, Shelby Williams, decried taxpayer-funded lobbying as a way for cities to use Texans' tax dollars to lobby for causes that the taxpayer would oppose, such as raising property taxes.
Fifty House members, including Speaker Dade Phelan, have signed a pledge in support of the ban “on what is described as taxpayer-funded professional lobbying,” according to Collin Times.
Middleton’s HB 749 has a companion bill in the Senate, filed by Sen. Bob Hall (R-Canton). SB 234 would ban the use of public funds by political subdivisions for lobbying activities. The bill has been referred to the same committee but has yet to have a public hearing.
