In session and out, lobbying is by far the biggest source of money in Texas politics. Taxpayers foot a sizable chunk of the bill, accounting for as much as $110 million (over 16 percent of the total reported lobbying money) during the 2020 election cycle time period. Another $70,429,959 (also around 16 percent of the total) has spent using taxpayer dollars in the 2021 so far.
Texas Forward Party PAC
Texas Committee
$2,504Cash on Hand
$35,299Total Contributions
$46,744Total Expenditures
Financial Activity
Top Contributors
Total Contributions | Name |
---|---|
$4,000.00 | Jeremy Brown |
$3,750.00 | Laura Wheat |
$2,500.00 | Laura Wheat |
$1,525.73 | John Keller |
$1,500.00 | Andrew Yang |
$1,250.00 | Andrew Greenawalt |
$1,000.00 | J Michael Hafner |
$800.00 | Rick Kennedy |
$500.00 | Abdul Malik |
$500.00 | Andy Greenawalt |
Top Payees
Total Expenditures | Payee |
---|---|
$6,281.03 | Solution Focused |
$5,500.00 | Texas Tribune Inc |
$4,000.00 | Cates Legal Group PLLC |
$3,000.00 | Richard Kennedy |
$2,892.00 | Jones Graduate School of Business Events |
$2,892.00 | Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business |
$2,500.00 | Cates Legal Group PLLC |
$2,000.00 | William Harper |
$1,696.24 | Bannerbuzz |
$1,601.60 | The Pershing |
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The stakes were particularly high for the 2020 elections, and not just for the presidency. At the state-level, some of the most closely watched races were Democratic efforts to flip swing state legislatures blue and take control of the upcoming redistricting process.
Now that lawmakers have convened in Austin, private citizens and PACs are no longer able to make political contributions, so the sole financial influence on lawmakers during the legislative session comes from lobbyists. In fact, in session and out, lobbying is by far the biggest source of money in Texas politics — and taxpayers are footing the bill for a lot of it. This look at the City of Lubbock is part of our series analyzing taxpayer-funded entities in Texas.