Democrats criticize TxDOT's use of Washington lobbyists

Associated Press

February 2, 2007

WASHINGTON - Texas Democrats criticized the Texas Department of Transportation's hiring of Washington lobbyists as a waste of taxpayer money, while the agency defended its strategy for trying to secure gas tax funds.

The department said it has contracted several lobbyists at a cost of $1.5 million over a 13-month period that started in December.

Spokesman Randall Dillard said the lobbyists are helping the state's effort to bring back more of the gasoline taxes paid by Texas drivers into the federal Highway Trust Fund. Texas gets back 92 cents for each dollar it submits, while some other states get a more favorable return.

"Our position is: Until we receive all the gas tax funds that Texans send to Washington we are going to need to have every voice we can get to help us," Dillard said.

The agency said it hasn't hidden its lobbying, but Democrats said they didn't learn about the contracts until the lobbyists started making the rounds on Capitol Hill last week.

Dillard said the agency is spending just over $1 million on a deal with Rodman Co. and $461,500 to be split among four subcontractors hired by Rodman. The subcontractors are Garry Mauro, a Democratic former Texas Land Commissioner, the lobbying firm ViaNovo, Chad Bradley & Associates and the Federalist Group.

Democrats in Washington contend they were elected to represent the state's interests.

"I like Garry Mauro, but I don't need Garry Mauro to talk to me about Texas transportation issues," said U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston.

State Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, said he's written a letter to Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson asking for copies of all documents involving the Federalist Group and other lobbyists hired by the transportation department.

"Obviously, that's ridiculous that they would pay $1.5 million for five lobbyists in Washington, D.C.," Dunnam said Thursday. "It just really is an outrage."

The flap is the second time in recent months that the state's lobbying activities have been scrutinized.

Gov. Rick Perry last month canceled $1.3 million in state contracts with private lobbying firms who represented Texas before Congress.

Questions were raised about the contracts with Cassidy & Associates and Federalist Group because of the firms' ties to convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is facing state charges in a campaign finance investigation.

Democrats have been particularly critical of the Federalist Group because one of its lobbyists made contributions to Republicans.

Perry spokesman Robert Black defended the transportation department's lobbying contracts but said Perry had nothing to do with them.

"The fact of the matter is the transportation bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., is incredibly extensive and to have people on the ground who can traverse that bureaucratic maze is highly valuable," Black said.