North Austin News

An Austin-area school district says it has no documents relating to any money spent on lobbyists. 

The Eanes Independent School District was responding to an open records request by a representative campaigning to ban the use of taxpayers' money for lobbying purposes.

Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) has filed thousands of requests with cities, counties and school districts across the state. Middleton is sponsoring a bill to ban the use of taxpayer money on lobbyists and on dues to representative organizations that may use money to hire lobbyists.

The Eanes ISD stated in response to the request for information: "There are no documents responsive to your request."

Under Middleton's bill, and a similar one filed in the Senate ahead of the new legislative session, political subdivisions, including cities, counties and school boards, cannot use public funds to hire an individual required to register as a lobbyist. Further, they cannot pay dues to an association, including the Texas Municipal League, that hires lobbyists.

“Taxpayer-funded lobbyists have opposed property tax relief, election integrity, disclosures of what bonds truly cost taxpayers, the constitutional ban on a state income tax and they even opposed the bill to fund and protect our teacher’s retirement pensions,” Middleton told the East Houston News.

In a letter sent to the Senate committee, mayors from across the state argued that such legislation would deny the ability of communities to advocate on issues important to their constituents, particularly as they recover from the effects of the pandemic. The letter, whose signatories were led by the current league president, Coppell City Mayor Karen Hunter, said it would also deprive "the legislature of valuable information from local governments on the most pressing issues of our time."

The bar on dues will have a crippling effect on the work of the the league and other associations, according to the organization.

"The concept of restricting community advocacy represents a limited view of public discourse and policymaking, not to mention a potentially dangerous understanding of the constitutional guarantees afforded to all citizens," the letter said.

Up to $41 million per year is spent by local government on Austin lobbyists, according to a 2017 report by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative organization campaigning for the ban.

“Taxpayers are forced to pay for lobbyists that lobby against their best interests,” Middleton said. “Taxpayer-funded lobbying is a modern practice and a bad one.”

Middleton said that 91% of Texan voters oppose political entities paying lobbyists, citing a December 2019, poll by WPA Intelligence, a self-styled conservative polling firm.