According to reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission by lobbyists required to register in the state of Texas, as much as $376.6 million was spent to influence state policymakers in 2017. Given the state of Texas spent about $116 billion in 2017, spending $376.6 million to have a say in how those billions are spent can be seen as a wise investment, the equivalent of spending $3 to try to shape $1,000 of spending.
Local Government
Reinvigorating Federalism and Fiscal Discipline in Texas: Establishing the Office of State Sovereignty
Texas governments received $84.3 billion in federal funding in 2023, raising concerns over financial dependency and regulatory consequences. Creating an Office of State Sovereignty to monitor the application, receipt, and conditions of this aid could mitigate fiscal risk and improve transparency. Key points: Texas lacks a centralized system to oversee federal grants potentially flowing to...
September 9, 2026