Taxpayer-funded lobbying is a common practice in which “[local] governmental entities spend public money to hire registered lobbyists to advocate for and against specific legislative proposals. These progovernment advocacy efforts are routinely at odds with private citizens’ liberties and finances” (Quintero & Welton, 2023, p. 2). It is estimated that political subdivisions spent as much as $75 million contracting with lobbyists to advocate for larger budgets, more taxing authority, and greater regulatory control Quintero & Welton, 2023, p. 1) Several members of the 89th Texas Legislature have made it a top priority to end the practice of taxpayer funded lobbying this year.
Energy & Environment
An Economic Assessment of the 765-kV Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan
An Economic Assessment of the 765-kV Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan And Alternative Approaches to Enable Cost-Effective Growth WRITTEN BY Brent Bennett, Ph.D. Download the full research paper here. KEY POINTS • The need for the 765-kV STEP is driven by an overbuilding of wind and solar across Texas, particularly in West Texas and South Texas,...
June 2, 2026