The Midland County Commissioners Court recently adopted a resolution in opposition to two bills under consideration by the Texas Legislature – one in each chamber – that would limit the ability of municipalities to spend public funds on lobbying.
Commissioner Scott Ramsey (Precinct 1) said during the March 8 meeting of the Commissioners Court that with Senate Bill 234 and House Bill 749, the state is trying to restrict county and other local governments from having their voices heard at the state level.
“This cropped-up two years ago. Luckily, it didn’t go very far,” Ramsey said. “It seems to me that they may have a little bit more support. I think it’s extremely important for us to show our support – our opposition to SB234 and HB 749.”
Commissioner Randy Prude (Precinct 4) thanked Ramsey for adding the item to the agenda, and said that it is important for local governments to be able to speak out against unfunded mandates from the state that force local governments to raise taxes for programs they have no say in.
“I think it’s really necessary that we oppose this at all levels,” said Commissioner Robert "Robin" Donnelly. “Part of the deal is that there’s about 1,200-to-1,500 bills that are filed each year that the legislature is in session, and this would preclude anyone from advising us – from our associations or from that – to talk to us.”
Under the proposed legislation, local leaders may not even be aware of legislation that could have significant effects on such basic functions as how governments respond to disasters until a bill has become law, let alone have their voices heard on it, Donnelly said.
“If we don’t have a voice, then we are going to be burdened with so many additional obligations,” Donnelly said.
After the Commissioners voted to approve the resolution opposing the bills, Prude said that he feels county government is particularly bipartisan in nature, with members from both parties sharing primarily the same goals.