More Office Of State-Federal Relations Stuff

I had intended to post more on the Office of State-Federal Relations mess yesterday, but did not get the chance to.

Anyway, the hearing earlier this week on the Sunset Commission’s staff recommendation that the office be scuttled and that the governor be allowed to spend even more money on private, DeLay-crony lobbyists was evidently quite the barn burner. Here’s what the Austin Chronicle had to say:

The picture that emerged at a hearing this week was of an office dominated by Gov. Rick Perry’s staff, with little influence from the Legislature and no clear picture of just how much the state is spending on outside contracts through various agencies. Earlier this year, Perry came under fire for using two conservative lobby firms as outside consultants for the office, to the tune of $1.1 million. While such practice isn’t unusual – Sunset review staff noted that most states place such offices under the governor, and many use outside consultants with broader contacts – the fact that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick have taken little interest in meeting to sign off on the state’s federal priorities is. Director Joey Longley, who is in charge of this Sunset review and even the last review of the agency 12 years ago, is recommending that OSFR be moved under the governor’s office. Longley also told the Sunset Commission, however, that he is keenly aware that the House and Senate have not taken a vocal role in helping to shape and direct the policy of the office. Committee members, for their part, said it was impossible to force Dewhurst and Craddick to the table. The Sunset Commission will make its recommendations on OSFR in November.

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, had harsh words for the commission staff recommendations:

If the Sunset Commission adopts the staff recommendations made today, nothing will prevent Governor Perry from continuing to waste millions more taxpayer dollars on a couple of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff lobbyist cronies.  The simple truth is this Governor would rather spend $1 million enriching corrupt cronies than putting kids back on CHIP, restoring health care for teachers, making college more affordable for Texas kids, or reducing the excessive rates of homeowners insurance.

Currently, two cronies of indicted former Congressman Tom DeLay, and convicted Republican scam artist Jack Abramoff, are each making at least $180,000 a year at Texas taxpayer expense.  Governor Perry approved each of these exorbitant and unnecessary lobby contracts with Todd Boulanger and Drew Maloney.

Despite the timid actions of the Sunset Commission today, they still have the opportunity to prevent Governor Perry from continuing to waste hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on these two Abramoff and DeLay cronies.  The State of Texas already has 32 Congressmen, 2 United States Senators, and the President of the United States who call Texas home.  They don’t need lobbyists to help them do their job.

Technically, that’s 31 Congressmen and 1 Senator, since Tom DeLay resigned and moved to Virginia and Kay Bailey Hutchison’s already taken up residence there. But, you get the idea.

I also want to bring to your attention a couple other documents. This is a letter signed by six members of the Texas Congressional Delegation in March of this year slamming Governor Perry for giving lobbyists the credit for accomplishments of the state’s congressional delegation and asking the governor, point blank, why he gave credit where it wasn’t due. Here’s my favorite part:

We see only two possible explanations for these dubious assertions that various pieces of pro-Texas legislation are the work of your high-priced Washington lobbyists. First, your Washington lobbyists may have hoodwinked you by claiming credit for work done by the elected Texas delegation on a bipartisan basis. Given that a number of lobbyists such as Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon have recently pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding their clients, we cannout rule out this possibility and we urge you to investigate this immediately. On the other hand, perhaps you agree that the Texas delegation is responsible for these legislative actions, but you give credit to your Washington lobbyists in an attempt to justify their high-priced contracts.

Also, here is a memo from the OSFR to the Governor, Lt. Governor and House Speaker noting that the state had a paltry one percent increase in the amount of state funds received the first year the lobbyists were dancing around in DC, compared to more significant increases in previous years.

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