Texas PAC Spending Leaps 20%

The number of general-purpose political action committees (PACs) active in Texas declined from 910 in the 1996 election cycle to 892 in the 1998 cycle. Despite diminishing numbers of PACs, total PAC expenditures increased 20 percent over the same period, from $43 million in the 1996 cycle to $52 million in the most recent election cycle, Texas PACs: 1998 Election Cycle Spending has found.

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Special-Interests Spend Up to $180 Million on Lobby Services in 1999 Legislative Session

A new study found that 1,700 different special interests will spend up to $180 million to influence Texas politics during the 1999 Legislative session. The cost of these special-interest lobby tricks is up 19 percent over what the lobby spent during the 1997 legislative session, according to the study, Austin's Oldest Profession: Texas' Top Lobby Clients and Those Who Service Them.

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Candidates Raised $115 Million in 1998 State Elections

Candidates for Texas' statewide and legislative offices in 1998 raised over $115 million, according to reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Fueled by Bush's $25 million, the Governor's race attracted the most money: $29.9 million.

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