AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today upon the passage of Senate Bill 12, Banning Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying, by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, on second reading:

“Most Texans, regardless of political affiliation, have supported the effort to stop the practice of using taxpayer money to fund lobbyists. I have consistently advocated for and prioritized banning this practice, which leeches off taxpayers to their detriment. Texans do not want their hard-earned money to be funneled into lobbyists’ pockets, who normally live outside their communities and do not advocate for their values. Texans expect their elected officials to advocate on their behalf, not outsource their voice to special interests who subvert them. I thank Sen. Middleton for his advocacy on this critical issue.”

Senate Bill 12, by Sen. Mayes Middleton, bans the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas.