The Ellis County Press: Taxpayer-funded lobbying cost cities $1,000 each

Taxpayer-funded lobbying cost cities $1,000 each
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Editor on 12/17/2009 14:42:00


STAFF REPORT
_The Ellis County Press_
DESOTO - The Best Southwest Partnership is a non-profit organization with
current and former government officials who lobby - on the taxpayers dime -
Austin and Washington, D.C. lawmakers for transportation, economic development
and more programs.
For $1,000 dues, the cities of Ferris, Wilmer and Glenn Heights joined the Best
Southwest Partnership in their new associate member classification.
Partnership board members include former DeSoto Mayor Roy Orr and Monte
Anderson, owner of Options Real Estate who is developing the Mid-Towne
development in Midlothian.
The original Best Southwest charter members include the cities of Cedar Hill,
DeSoto, Duncanville and Lancaster.
The associate membership was to be decided by Midlothian's city council Tuesday,
Dec. 8 as _The Ellis County Press_ was going to press.
While taxpayer-funded lobbying is illegal in Texas for county governments, there
are no statutes or restrictions barring cities and school districts from hiring
lobbyists through membership organizations.
Best Southwest Membership
Ellis County and Southern Dallas County governmental entities and their
taxpayer-funded dues support the following organizations:
Ellis/Dallas County
Texas Association of Counties
Cities
Texas Municipal League; Best Southwest Partnership
School Districts
Texas Association of School Boards