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State-Fed: New contract rules?
Washington lobbying contracts in the Office of State-Federal Relations would receive additional public scrutiny under proposed changes in the agency that were recommended today.
In addition, all public agencies in Texas would have to publicly disclose in Austin who they have hired to lobby for them in Washington, as well.
In recommending the agency be merged into the Governor’s Office, the Sunset Advisory Commission attached these guidelines to any contracts that are signed with any “governmental consultants” — as Washington lobbyists are often called — to include conflict of interest provisions, to comply with regular procurement rules, to include termination clauses, to include “clear goals” and to require that firms “work with key members of Congress.”
Recently, the Office’s lobbying contracts have been criticized because they were with GOP lobbyists with close ties to former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and the infamous Jack Abramoff, convicted of conspiring to bribe public officials.
Now that Democrats are in control of both the U.S. Senate and House, lawmakers are scrutinizing the contracts anew.
Commission member Howard Wolf, who made the motion to include the new contract provisions in the recommendation, said it was for good government. The additional provision requiring all state and local entities to disclose who they hire is “just sunshine,” as well, he said.
Asked by Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, where that information will be made publicly available, Wolf said. “I would expect the governor to put it online.”
Another little change: In recommending the office be switched from a free-standing agency to a division of Gov. Rick Perry’s Office, the commission also mandated that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick participate in weekly briefings on federal legislation — as they do now, according to Wolf.
The recommended changes now go to the Legislature for consideration in January.
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