Texas: City

Kudos to Houston City Councilmember Peter Brown for addressing the issue of high electricity rates in Houston. From his website at peterbrownforhouston.com:
A BETTER DEAL FOR HOUSTON
As it is, we pay too much. Electricity in Austin and San Antonio is nearly half the price of ours. The City should use its leverage and drive a harder bargain, protecting Houston consumers and getting them a better deal. And we should explore creative ways to lower monthly electric bills, like an opt-in program that would allow residents – especially seniors and those on low or fixed incomes – to buy their electricity from the City and enjoy the discounted bulk rates the City already receives.

KVUE's Elise Hu reported that the City of Austin will pay $830,000 for lobbyists this legislative session.

That is more than any other city in Texas. In fact, it is more than Houston and Dallas combined.

Elise Hu provided a list of the fifteen individuals and firms who are being paid by the City of Austin. In order to decide whether Austin is getting its money's worth, you have to look at who the City has hired. Here's a little background on each of the fifteen.

Reggie Bashur is a principal at Textilis Strategies. He has worked for practically every prominent Texas Republican in recent history: Rick Perry, Susan Combs, John Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison, George H.