Money from the federal government is often thought of as “free,” but, nothing could be further from the truth. The prevalence of federal funds has been shown to adversely affect a state’s economy, increase state government spending, and lead to a decline in state tax revenues.
Governments Lobbying Government: City of Houston
Every year, local governments in Texas spend millions upon millions to influence state-level policymaking. These advocacy campaigns are funded with tax dollars and often employ external lobbyists (i.e. registered lobbyists), internal lobbyists (i.e. intergovernmental relations personnel), and pro-government associations (i.e. Texas Municipal League, Texas Association of Counties, Texas Association of School Boards, etc.). One local...