Lobbyists Shower Lawmakers, State Staffers With Gifts
This is one in a series of occasional stories about ethics and transparency in the part-time Texas Legislature.
In 2011, lobbyist James Frinzi approached state Rep. Rafael Anchia and asked him to carry a bill on electric car charging stations. Anchia agreed, so long as Frinzi got the testimony lined up when the bill came up in committee.
But when the measure came up, no one was there to speak in favor of it, leaving the Dallas Democrat steamed. Not long after, an unexpected and unwanted apology gift from Frinzi arrived in Anchia's office: a baseball signed by former ...
Comments (10)
eyeswideopen
Gifts are wrong. It is a payoff for, or a prepayment for a favorable political action. Any other justification for doing so is bullshit. It should be totally forbidden. Pay elected officials a bit more and throw them in jail if they accept anything from anyone over and above their state compensation.
Jalapeño Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's bribery
Amy Denn Perry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sickening.
Cheryl Everman via Texas Tribune on Facebook
When I was studying Texas politics at Amarillo College, lawmakers made $7,200 a year (and still do) there (BTW for those who don't know, the Texas legislature meets every 2 years for 140 days). Ever wonder why someone would spend $100K+ to win a job that pays so little? This is the answer.
Tim Slaate Arellano via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lobbying should be outlawed why should we have to be a part of yet another group in order to influence the very people we as a whole took part in an election to elect for office? Sucky part is I know for me I am not involved with lobbying but I vote. So wtf?
Andy Jones via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The majority of our elected folks at the state level are either working for the party or the lobbyist's, not the people. Sad.
Duane Florschuetz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Greed reigns and subverts the legislators efforts away from the will of the people and the common good. Yes, it disturbs me that we elect people to represent us, state and federal, and too often they represent their campaign contributors and corporate interests.
Toni McNulty via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lobbying should be outlawed on both the state and federal level. Period. End of discussion.
Jeff Funkhouser
While legislators only make $7200 for the 140 day / 2 yr session, they also get a hefty $150/day per diem and additional travel allowance whenever doing 'the business of the legislature". How many of these folks who've spent their entire lives working off the state teat are now millionaires (Gov Perry)? Finally, while they bee-atch and moan about state pensions for teachers and city pensions for firefighters/police and other public servants that actually WORK, THEY get an outrageous pension for their 'work'. AND, it's against the law to find out how much they get paid as pension $$ ... laws they passed to shield their pension info from freedom of information requests specifically!
This was reaffirmed in court just yesterday: http://bit.ly/Xp42Nv
Hypocrites and scoundrels, all!
Nora Dearing via Texas Tribune on Facebook
They shouldn't be allowed to accept "gifts" from anyone. With a state a d budget as large as Texas has, they need to meet every year and take care of all of its problems and not be in such a damn hurry.