One of Texas’ most influential lobbying groups has expanded its reach to Washington, taking its arguments against government spending and environmental
“„Texas’ small businesses have long been represented in Washington by the National Federation of Independent Business, which supports deficit reduction and opposes tax increases on small business. The group has not taken a position on entitlement reform.
“„[TAB President Bill] Hammond said the Texas-specific lobbying effort would harness the power of the state’s local chambers of commerce and businesses.
“„“The delegation wants to hear from the folks back home,” Hammond said.
“„When it comes to jobs let’s not forget the people who work in the mines producing Texas lignite coal to keep our lights on and all the other jobs this industry supports. There could be 14,000 Texas jobs at stake. Where will those folks go if the EPA dries up the market for Texas lignite? Many of these are rural jobs. The rural economy of Texas has been through enough in the ongoing drought without another blow like this.
“„In the coming months, the Texas Center for Federal Policy will rally like-minded organizations and elected officials from across the country around our message that meaningful entitlement reform is the only path to continued prosperity for our state and nation.
“„Hammond and his allies won the larger issue last year when a judge rejected an indictment against the Texas Association of Business in connection with the $1.7 million Hammond raised from 30 corporations to help 24 GOP House candidates.
“„For future campaigns, corporate executives will have to be careful, but as Hammond said Tuesday, the “right of corporations and associations to inform the public on how their elected officials represent them are completely upheld.”
“„The Texas Legislature enacted its first ban on corporate campaign contributions in 1905. Later, the rights of corporate and union executives and their supporters as individuals to make themselves heard was protected by the use of political action committees, which could collect voluntary personal campaign contributions — but not money from corporate or union treasuries.
“„But the courts in the Texas Association of Business case have held that corporations and unions have free speech rights that allow them to spend money on campaigns commenting on individual officeholders or candidates , as long as they don’t expressly advocate their election or defeat.
“„So, if you thought the Legislature was already dominated by business interests, just wait. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.