In Texas politics, the real financial powerhouse is not the money given by individuals and political action committees (PACs) —  it’s lobbying. In fact, in the last election cycle, the money spent on lobbying exceeded all money donated to Texas candidates and PACs by more than $100,000,000.  What might be even more surprising is that …

Every election cycle, the donations given to Texas candidates and PACs come under intense scrutiny by media outlets, politicians, and citizens alike. Everyone wants to know who the biggest donors are (it’s always one of our most-viewed pages each cycle) and to speculate whether they are buying influence in Austin. Who gets a lot less …

When lawmakers convene in Austin, the biggest financial influence on them shifts from campaign contributions to lobbying. And taxpayers are footing the bill for a lot of it. Background: During the Texas legislative session, state law prohibits campaign contributions to legislators. This law is designed to prevent donors and PACs from currying favor with legislators …

During the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature, a slew of bills have been filed which aim to curb the practice of “revolving door lobbyists.” The term “revolving door lobbyists” refers to former elected officials who now work as lobbyists. They are paid to form relationships with members of the legislature and key staff to …

Texas politicians can be influenced by two financial sources: campaign contributions and lobbyist expenditures. During the Texas legislative session, state law prohibits campaign contributions to legislators. This is designed to prevent donors and PACs from currying favor with legislators while they are casting votes. For example, if you wanted to donate to the campaign of your House representative, you are not …