Lobby Watch: Locking Up Immigrant Families

Orwellian Texas lawmakers are working on legislation to license immigrant detention centers as child-care facilities. Many testified against the idea, but the prison industry is paying ten Texas lobbyists up to $480,000 and has doled out $225,000 in political contributions in recent years. 

Read the Private Prisons report.

Lobby Watch: Fantasy Sports Bookies Recruit Deep Lobby Bench

When Attorney General Paxton opined last year that fantasy-sports bets constitute illegal gambling, the industry had one registered Texas lobbyist. Today, as the House Licensing Committee hears a legalization bill, the industry boasts 25 Texas lobbyists.

Allen Blakemore, who leads the lobby's fantasy team, doubles as a political consultant. That's why Austin bookies are taking odds on the extent to which Blakemore's legislative clients will outdo their colleagues in supporting this industry. 

Lobby Watch handicaps this fantasy match up like nobody else.