Others Help in Exposing Government Lobbying
Others Join In
Our breaking report in August this year on taxpayer paid lobbyists (Our Governments Hire Lobbyists to Raise Our Taxes) exposed the widespread use of lobbyists by local governments and related associations. We reported that these governments are probably the largest users of lobbyists in Tennessee and most are paid with our taxpayer dollars.
We pointed out that lobbyists were hired to assist the governments in raising our taxes and to pass other laws which diminish many of our rights including those to protest taxes. Our report also listed the names of these governments and related Associations which use lobbyists as well as the names of their lobbyists.
We let you know that numerous other governmental related agencies such as utility companies and school districts also hired professional lobbyists.
It now appears that our report has attracted significant attention and has sparked others to report on and join in the fight against taxpayer funded lobbying.
After our report was released, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research prepared a supplementary report, but it reports on the issues further. The Center’s report reveals the actual amounts of tax dollars that our various governments have paid to these lobbyists. We found their complementary report very informative and helpful to Tennessee’s taxpayers.
The Center’s full report may be read by CLICKING HERE.
Our report listed that the City of Memphis hired more lobbyists than any other government and also listed the numerous hired lobbyists. The Center’s report supplemented this information by reporting that Memphis paid more tax dollars to lobbyists than any other government. For the period 2007-09, Memphis paid lobbyists $638,357 to lobby the Tennessee Legislature and $453,785 was paid for lobbying the Federal Government.
The Center’s report lists some very interesting examples of tax increases and other passed legislation adverse to taxpayer rights which involved governments that hired lobbyists. These are obvious abuses of our tax dollars.
We at Tennessee Taxpayers Association are pleased to see that our vigilance and publishing of public information helps spur taxpayers and other organizations to engage in the taxpayers’ fight to oppose unfair laws, rules, and procedures.
Thanks to all.
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