The Texas Public Policy Foundation released the following statement on SB 10:
“Senate Bill 10, as approved by the House Committee on State Affairs, creates a massive loophole that makes many of its good government measures irrelevant. As drafted, it allows lawyers working with local governments to avoid registering as a lobbyist, which will allow lobbyists to continue to receive taxpayer dollars but under the cover of darkness,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “It is disappointing that lawmakers did not advance a bill reflective of Texans’ overwhelming opposition to funding lobbyists with tax dollars. It is even more unfortunate that the bill put forward strengthens some lobbyists’ access to public money and influence. TPPF cannot support SB10 as it heads to the House floor and is hopeful that the lawyer loophole will be removed.”