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Washington, DC - Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) today, along with several members of the Congressional Texas Delegation, wrote a letter to Governor Rick Perry seeking answers regarding the hiring of outside lobbying firms to represent Texas interests on Capitol Hill.
In a letter sent to Governor Rick Perry, dated January 20, 2006, seven Texas Democrats asked the Governor to explain why the State of Texas needed to hire two lobbying firms to lobby on Texas’ behalf, even though there are 34 elected officials who represent Texas’ interests. The State of Texas has a D.C. office as well. The contracts cost $1 million in taxpayer money, but the Governor never responded.
Governor Perry’s office stated that both lobby firms did in fact merit the million dollar contract since they were responsible for the 2004 passage of the Texas sales tax exemption and the 2005 increase of Texas’ share of highway funds.
Many Texas lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have also taken credit for their work in getting highway funds and for their work on the sales tax exemption. In response, Texas Democrats posed the following question to Governor Perry in today’s letter:
• Did your lobbyists tell you that they were responsible for the state sales tax deduction or the increase in Texas’ share of highway funding?
• If not, then why would you give the credit for these efforts to your Washington lobbyists instead of to the elected Texas delegation, which includes members of your own Republican Party?
• If so, did any Texas Members of Congress verify the claims that these lobbyists were critical to the state sales tax deduction or the Texas highway funding share increase?
The letter asks for a response by April 17, the start of the special session.
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