Source: Data analyzed in this report come from lobby reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission by year-end 2009. Texas lobbyists report their income within broad ranges (such as “$50,000 to $99,999”). For brevity’s sake, this study reports the maximum amount, labeling it “maximum” or “up to,” except where otherwise noted.

I. Lobby Facts

• Special interests spent up to $2.6 billion over the past decade on more than 65,000 Texas lobby contracts.

• During 2009, 2,866 clients paid 1,690 Texas lobbyists up to $344 million, which represents a rare recessionary dip from the $348 million spent in the preceding legislative-session year of 2007.

• Twenty-seven clients boasted maximum lobby expenditures exceeding $1 million apiece in 2009. AT&T, which perennially tops this list, spent up to $9.3 million on 117 contracts.

• Led by the Energy Future Holdings Corp., “Energy & Natural Resources” clients spent more on the lobby than any other industry (up to $62 million), accounting for 18 percent of Texas’ total lobby expenditures.

• “Ideological & Single-Interest” clients, led by local governments, ranked No. 2, spending up to $55 million and accounting for 16 percent of all lobby spending.

• Health clients ranked No. 3, spending up to $42 million. Leading this group, the Texas Medical Association clashed with health insurers over their coverage of health benefits.

• Alcohol and gambling interests dominated the Miscellaneous Business sector, which spent up to $38 million to rank No. 4.

• Thirty-six lobbyists reported maximum 2009 incomes exceeding $1.5 million apiece. These elite lobbyists collectively received up to $78 million, accounting for 23 percent of all lobby dollars.

• Carol McGarah reported up to $3.4 million from 52 clients, making her the top-billing lobbyist. Andrea McWilliams followed with $3.3 million, followed by Rusty Kelley, McGarah’s partner at Blackridge, Inc.

• Texas lobbyists reported 53 mega-contracts worth more than $200,000 apiece. Two Connecticut-based executives for London’s Henderson Global Investors reported the largest contracts worth $501,000 apiece. Two hired-gun contracts were worth up to $400,000 apiece. These were W. James Jonas’ contract with publisher Pearson Education and Stan Schlueter’s contract with manufacturer Trinity Industries.

    

©Copyright Texans for Public Justice, May 2010