Tribpedia: Mike Toomey

Tribpedia

Mike Toomey is one of Texas' top lobbyists, a former state lawmaker and served as chief of staff to two Texas governors: Bill Clements and Rick Perry. He is currently a partner in The Texas Lobby Group, an Austin firm.

According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Toomey's clients in 2009 included wireless company AT&T, pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co ...

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Pro-Rick Perry PAC Raised $5.5 Million

Mike Toomey (l), former chief of staff for Texas Governor Rick Perry (r) with the governor on January 21, 2003 in his office on the eve of his second inaugural. Toomey, now a high-powered lobbyist, and Perry have been friends since their first days in politics.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Mike Toomey (l), former chief of staff for Texas Governor Rick Perry (r) with the governor on January 21, 2003 in his office on the eve of his second inaugural. Toomey, now a high-powered lobbyist, and Perry have been friends since their first days in politics.

Wealthy donors and companies, mostly from Texas, poured millions into a Super PAC that tried to help Rick Perry get elected president. Co-founder Mike Toomey, a lobbyist and Perry confidante, gave more than $100,000 toward the doomed effort.

Former gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina speaks at the Texas Capitol about crony capitalism, joined by Janet Ahmad of Homeowners for Better Building, on Sept. 22, 2011
Enlarge photo by: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Former gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina speaks at the Texas Capitol about crony capitalism, joined by Janet Ahmad of Homeowners for Better Building, on Sept. 22, 2011

Medina, Activists Take Aim at Rick Perry at Capitol

Former gubernatorial candidate and Tea Party favorite Debra Medina and other activists slammed what they called a culture of crony capitalism in Texas politics at a Capitol press conference on Thursday — taking aim at Gov. Rick Perry.

Presidential candidate Rick Perry makes a speech at the Iowa 80 "World's Largest Truck Stop" at Walcott, Iowa on August 16, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Presidential candidate Rick Perry makes a speech at the Iowa 80 "World's Largest Truck Stop" at Walcott, Iowa on August 16, 2011.

A Perry-Friendly Super PAC Says Iowa Likes Him

Texas Weekly

It's a synergy thing. Super PACs can spend all they want to advance a candidate or cause, with certain limitations and — importantly — without talking to the candidate or the campaign. So here's Make Us Great Again, a new Perry-centric Super PAC releasing a poll of Iowa voters that shows — surprise — the governor doing well there. 

Enlarge photo illustration by: Todd Wiseman

PAC Men, and Women

Texas Weekly

The governor's former legislative director has a Super PAC to support the run for president, and now there's another such PAC — headed by former Perry chief of staff and legislator Mike Toomey.

Enlarge photo by: Matt Stiles

Under Law, Lobbyist Conflicts Stay Private

Lobbyists are required by law to notify their clients if they represent two or more groups with clashing agendas. They are also required to notify the Texas Ethics Commission. Scores of lobbyists have done so in recent legislative sessions. What is not required is for the public or elected representatives to be informed.

Enlarge graphic by: Jacob Villanueva

Do Libertarians Help Democrats and Hurt Republicans?

It's impossible to know exactly which elections will be close in November. But with Libertarian candidates in more than a dozen House races that are on the Republican and Democratic target lists, signed up for the two Texas congressional seats on the GOP's national target list, and in the statewide races, too, here's a question: Are the Libertarians giving Texas Democrats a electoral boost?