Paying Lobbyists More To Oppose You, AgainSubmitted by MQSullivan on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 9:38am.
Taxpayer-funded lobbying is perhaps the most egregious activity in which local governments engage. The City of Denton, for example, is paying a lobby firm $80,000 a year to keep fighting against their taxpayers' interests. Denton is one of several cities that pays the lobby firm HillCo to navigate the legislative process in an attempt to allow for higher taxes and fees while seeking to avoid both accountability and transparency. It was the unholy alliance of Dallas-area taxing entities and large firms seeking lucrative payouts that unsuccessfully pushed for higher gasoline taxes and fees during the legislative session. What they refused to budge on were requirements for complete transparency in the spending, requiring metrics for traffic relief, and -- not surprisingly -- a ban on using those new dollars for lobbying. After all, if there is more unaccountable money to spend, that's more contracts lobby firms like HillCo can line up. The Denton Record Chronicle, in it's ongoing role as chief cheerleader for tax-hiking interests and unaccountable spending, reported breathlessly today that taxpayers can expect the city to keep paying lobbyists to work against them. The city's mayor pro tem, Pete Kamp, took direct aim at Senate taxpayer champion Jane Nelson, for her principled opposition to the plan. Kamp wants "public education" to turn the tide against Sen. Nelson. That'd be mis-education and misdirection, something the taxpayer funded lobby excels at providing their clients who have apparently little regard for the wishes of taxpayers footing the bill. As State Sen. Jane Nelson notes, the public is very well educated on the problems associated with "a new menu of taxes and fees." Indeed, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility delivered thousands of petitions and letters from taxpayers to legislators' offices opposing the tax hike and calling for an end to taxpayer-funded lobbying. Let's be clear, though: transportation is woefully misfunded right now, but the solution isn't to raise taxes. For example, rather than use tax dollars to fund lobbyists, city and state officials should instead work to end the billions of dollars in current gas tax diversions. Gas tax dollars are supposed to fund roads, but nearly 45 percent is spent on other things. When we know that entities like the Dallas Area Rapid Transit -- a big beneficiary of the tax-grab -- have lost or mis-accounted billions of dollars in recent years, fundamental operating reform and fiscal transparency should be pursued and implemented long before taxes are raised. Giving Denton, DART or any entity access to more dollars now would simply be a license for more waste. Bookmark/Search this post with: |
Most Recent Postings
|
Delicious
Digg
Technorati
Taxpayer fund of Lobbyists
The audacity of these City leaders in Denton and Dallas, when they continue to cry about the loss of tax dollars, when they are the reason for it. Where do they get off using money for other than the intended use. The people also think that the taxpayer doesn't know that these new "fees" they are continuing to develop and charge for services is just a way to double dip the taxpayers and the users of the services. Quit crying and do what is right and ethical. Use the gas taxes to fund the road improvements that they are to be used for and quit diverting to some politicians little project......Do what is right and ethical for the good of the whole. The taxpayers are not stupid and we are starting to watch all of our elected officials and their behavior-- if it is not "Kick 'em out at the Next Opportunity!"
Tax money for lobbyists
Just say NO!!! I don't want any of my money going to pay for lobbyists trying to get more of my money by raising taxes. If they were a rabied dog in your house, you would kick them out,,,,Wouldn't you? Put them on the unemployeed list...
Jane Nelson is exactly right
Jane Nelson is exactly right and Pete Kamp is 100% wrong!
If elected public officials want to lobby the legislature they should do it themselves! Isn't that what they are being paid to do?
In my humble opinion it should be illegal for them to be able to hide behind a third party who lobbys against the interest of the very people who ultimately get the bills!
Taxpayer-paid Lobbying
I feel that it is not moral for a government entity (local or State) to use tax payer money to pay to any lobby firm (like HillCo) to represent the citizens; period. It is in extremely poor taste to do this, especially in order to raise a tax cap! Maybe they wouldn't need that money so badly if they stopped paying lobbyists to fight for them.
Hill Co Lobbyest
Noted in your email regarding Denton County using HillCo to lobby for them at a tune of 80,000.00! Is this the former Republican represenative Fred Hill who has been awarded by local governments for helping keep property taxes high so they can continue thier un controlled spending? Is this firm also being funded by Dallas County for the same? I have had the honor of having several letters to the editor printed complaining about Fred Hill. Fred never met a tax he did not like and has been responsible for preventing appraisal district reform and help defeat the proposed cap of 5 percent that in several past Republican Primaries had passed overwelmingly in a non binding referendum. I can't understand why he calls himself a Republican or why the party allowed him to continue this under thier party.
If memory serves me he is taking in over 600.000.00 from local governments in his lobbying efforts for higher taxes!
Lobbyists
ALL KINDS OF LOBBYING NEEDS TO BE OUTLAWED!!! except for a two paged letter being the maximum allowed for an individual OR organized group. If you're not smart enough to express your position within those limits - - -TOO DAMN BAD. Most anyone EXCEPT LAWYERS have this capability. JAIL TIME should be mandatory for any money changing hands to promote an opinion that can effect legislation or the like !!!
taxes in Denton cty
I have always felt like there were a bunch of crooks in Denton, it is absolutely incoragable! can't we flie a class action lawsuit aginst them for using our tax dollars to hire lobbyist to steel even more of our money!!!
lobbying with public money
i live in the city of el paso. our government spent millions of dollars of our tax payer money to keep asarco (copper smelter) from reopening. it is not the only smelter in town. yet the only one that we ever heard about. Why? rumor is the city has been eyeing the property for their pet project. who knows.
They are not representing
They are not representing me.
lobbyist
lobbyist are blood suckers , usually former politicions or their family or freinds . they only care about lining the pockets of those associated with them !!!!!!
Taxpayer funded lobbying
I am totally against taxpayer-funded lobbying. That is very egregious and a waste of tax money. I also oppose the tax hike.
Tax Payer Funded Lobbying
Such should be completely banned in the state of Texas. Nuf sed!!!
Tax Payer Funded Lobbying
Tax Payer Funded Lobbying is absolutely "unscrupulous"...its likened to dirty pool...and hitting below the belt...Only crooks,criminals and scumbags would do such a thing....and there are a lot of those living in the multi-million dollar neighborhoods....gee wonder how they afford to live there ...maybe its our tax dollars supporting their luxurious life style..???
Using taxes to pay for
Using taxes to pay for lobbyist to help promote higher taxes is disgusting and immoral. In fact, our present concept of taxation is unbconstitutional and immoral. If citizens took money from others and ran their personal finances the way government does-government would put them in jail. I simply do not understand why the people of America stand for such immorality. It will likely eventually bring the nation down.
Lobbyist working against me
I'm mad as hell and I'm not takig it anymore!!!
No wonder the Denton Royalty wants to eliminate any hint of term limits. They simply move the chairs around the room and sit in a different spot. Then they hire a lobbyist with my money to raise my taxes and I can't vote them out!!! I am limited to who I can vote for but they are not limited to where they run.
I agree!
I agree 100%. Well said!
Hiring of Lobbyist
It is wrong for lobbyiest to get taxpayers dollars to lobby against the taxpayers rights. Big Business including cities & towns hire all these high dollar lobbyists when the money could best be saved and the savings passsed on to taxpayers. Leave Jane Nelson alone, appears she is about the only one that will take on these big boys.
public office, resonsablity, and a good business plan
It is my belief each elected person is to represent all of the people is their area of responsablity wheather at city, state, or national levels. Not just those who either elected them or paid to put them in office.
It is a simple matter of good business to do what is best for the company. If it profits the company then every one prospers. However mismanagment hurts everyone in the company as well.
This same idea should be applied to those in public office. Just as congress has the abulity to give themselves a pay raise is a decided lack of accountablity to those whom pay their saleries so to is the complete lack of ethics in most big goverment agences.
I do not think the founding fathers would be very happy with the way this country is run to day and I bet they would tell us "To arms, to arms" the turn coats are here.
Since we the public can not just fire these sorry accuse for leaders it is up to us to get them out of office the only way we can. But we must be educated and spread the word like the town hall meeting spreadind across the country. We can not trust the leaders and we darn sure can trust the big media.
Denton representatives
It is no wonder the people in Denton are not getting representation from the representatives they elect. You have a pompous ass like Myra Crownover leading the charge under the guise of being a Republican and a supposed fiscal conservative. She is a true RINO and should be replaces in the next state election. One day the elected officials will get back to representing the constituents. But we pretty much have to change the mindset of the political process completely as a result of the 2008 elections. So get busy.