Testimony to the Senate State Affairs Committee

When Government Lobbies Itself: Why Texas Should Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

Texas local governments use taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists to influence state legislation—creating conflicts of interest, distorting democratic accountability, and undermining the interests of Texas taxpayers. Key points: Taxpayer-funded lobbying expenditures more than doubled from the 85th to the 89th Legislature, now reaching as high as $111.5 million. Taxpayer-funded lobbyists consistently opposed legislation involving property...

‘Restorative reproductive medicine’ should be offered sooner

After years of struggling with infertility and several autoimmune disease diagnoses, Clara was advised to begin IVF treatment. But Clara was concerned about the stress IVF would put on her body, so she and her husband chose a different path. At the age of 38, following three cycles of restorative reproductive medicine (RRM), Clara gave...

Hijacked: How the Bond Process is Being Used Against Taxpayers

School bonds are one of the main instruments contributing to Texas’s local government debt, which is currently over half a trillion dollars. Key points: As of 2026, school bond debt in Texas is over $236 billion. In May of 2023, Texas passed 79% of the 245 bond proposals put on the ballot, costing taxpayers $22.9...