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.
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