Republican DeLay/Abramoff Cronies To Continue $15,000 Per Month State Contracts To Lobby Democratic Congress

[Press release from State Rep. Jim Dunnam (D-Waco).]

Today, State Representative Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) released the following statement regarding the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission’s recommendations for the Office of State-Federal Relations (OSFR):

“The Sunset Commission abdicated their responsibility today by giving the Governor a blank check to continue wasting millions more taxpayer dollars on a couple of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff lobbyist cronies.  The exorbitant and excessive lobby contracts awarded to Todd Boulanger and Drew Maloney should have been canceled when they were first brought to light years ago.

“Now that Democrats control Congress, Chet Edwards is poised to become the most powerful member of the Texas delegation.  One of these lobbyists, who is funded by Texas taxpayers for $180,000 per year, has actually spent money trying to defeat Congressman Edwards.  How can the Governor justify spending taxpayer dollars on a lobby firm that actively campaigns against the most powerful member of the Texas delegation?

“The simple truth is this Governor would rather spend $1 million enriching corrupt Tom DeLay/Jack Abramoff cronies than putting kids back on CHIP, restoring health care for teachers, making college more affordable for Texas kids, or reducing excessive electricity rates.”

This morning, the Austin American Statesman issued a scathing editorial on Governor Perry and these two unnecessary and exorbitant lobby contracts.

EXCERPT:
“Using taxpayer money to pay private, partisan lobbyists was a dubious strategy to begin with. Now that the worm has turned in Washington, Perry’s decision could be disastrous for Texas. These lobby firms ignored Democrats all year — and worse, worked to defeat them — and the Democrats won’t forget it.

“Democratic leaders have asked Perry to dump these wasteful contracts with tainted lobbyists and let the Office of State-Federal Relations handle the state’s lobby work in the new Congress. Perry should heed that advice.”

The entire editorial can be read [here].