Tuesday, February 5, 2013

From the Austin American-Statesman, by Mike Ward.

Texas taxpayers cannot find out how much retired lawmakers as a group are collecting in retirement benefits from the state, an Austin judge ruled this morning.
The reason: Lawmakers have passed laws to keep that information secret, even if the retirees are not identified individually.
The decision by State District Judge Lora Livingston came in a lawsuit filed by the government-watchdog group Texans for Public Justice. The group is seeking to find out the total cost of retirement benefits being paid to 103 former lawmakers who are now lobbyists.

Read the full story.