Abilene Times

Blackwell Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Abe Gott said lobbying is not a major part of his job.

“I do not spend any time on lobbying,” Gott said. “I have personally only visited with members of Congress on two occasions and that was to provide a school perspective on providing transportation to transfer students and on Chapter 313 agreements.”

He said the small school district has a modest budget for lobbying.

State Rep. Mayes Middleton | Texas House of Representatives

“Our dues to associations run about $1,500 per year,” Gott told the Abilene Times. “I am unaware if any of those groups do any lobbying on our behalf.”

State Rep. Mayes Middleton said the Blackwell Consolidated ISD reporting spending $500 with the Coalition for Educational Funding, $600 with the Texas Rural Education Association and $500 with the Texas Association of Community Schools.

Located in Blackwell, the district includes elementary and high school students from southeastern Nolan County, southwestern Taylor County and a slice of northeastern Coke County. Student enrollment totaled 152 during the 2018-19 school year. 

Gott said he has no role in how the lobbyists operate.

“I do not participate in determining any lobbying objectives,” he said.

Middleton (R-Wallisville) and state Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) have filed bills in their respective houses to prohibit cities, counties and school districts from hiring lobbyists to oppose legislation targeting homeowner tax relief. Their bill sets clear guidelines against lobbyists paid by taxpayers arguing in favor of legislation.

The bill states: “A political subdivision may not spend public funds: (1) to hire an individual required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305 for the purpose of lobbying a member of the legislature; or (2) to pay a nonprofit state association or organization that: (A) primarily represents political subdivisions; and (B) hires or contracts with an individual required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305.”

Two entities potentially impacted are the Texas Municipal League (TML) and the Texas Association of Counties (TAC).

Middleton, who represents House District 23, has focused on this issue in his first term; he was re-elected in November. In December 2019, he wrote to every municipality in Texas asking them to disclose lobbying expenditures.

Both lawmakers pushed similar legislation during the 2020 session, but failed to get them passed. They have returned to the issue as the 2021 session approaches. Middleton filed HB 749 in the state House while Hall, who is in his second term representing Senate District 2, filed SB 234.

“Banning taxpayer-funded lobbying would amplify the voices of taxpayers. Right now, they’re being drowned out by the lobbyists,” Middleton told Texas Business Coalition in February.

Hall said the intent was to prevent professional advocates from controlling the process.

“Our bill would not have stopped local elected officials from petitioning or testifying in front of their government, only those lobbyists being paid by taxpayer dollars,” he told Texas Business Coalition.

The legislators said most Lone Star State residents are on their side. A 2019 survey from the Texas Public Policy Foundation said 88% of Texans are opposed to taxpayer-funded lobbying, with 78% strongly against it.