by Jason Edmonds
In state capitols and Washington, D.C., lobbyists are a familiar presence, shaping decisions that affect us all. Across Tennessee, local governments add to this by using taxpayer dollars to hire private lobbyists, often to advocate for increased spending. This creates a concerning cycle: government-hired lobbyists pushing for more government spending, while taxpayers are left footing the bill on both ends of the equation. Instead of funding essential services like schools, roads, and public safety, taxpayer money is being siphoned to influence legislation.
Citizens elect local leaders to represent their interests and advocate for their communities. Yet, this representation is being outsourced to private lobbyists who are funded by local tax dollars. This practice also undermines transparency and weakens public trust in elected officials.
A recent review of open records requests showed that in 2024 alone, cities in the Volunteer State spent more than $1.4 million on private lobbyists. This number does not include the numerous counties, school districts, public universities, and other government entities that also used tax dollars to hire private lobbyists. The total number of tax dollars spent on private lobbyists is not easily known, as state law only requires lobbyist compensation to be publicly disclosed in broad ranges, not exact dollar amounts. This lack of specific compensation data further reduces transparency in the taxpayer-funded lobbying process.
Instead of investing in infrastructure, education, or other crucial community needs, millions of taxpayer dollars are spent to influence state and federal legislators. This is a role that local elected officials should be fulfilling themselves, as they are the ones who best understand the needs of their constituents. Despite this, dozens of local governments participate in the lobbying game. Just because a practice is common, however, does not make it right. It is a disservice to the public to divert funds from vital services to pay for a service that local elected officials are already expected to provide.Â
Tennesseans understand the problem and overwhelmingly oppose taxpayer-funded lobbying. A recent poll showed that only 11 percent of Tennesseans support local governments’ use of tax dollars to hire private contract lobbyists. While there is broad, bipartisan agreement in Tennessee that this practice should end, the issue extends beyond state lines. In fact, Texas has made strides to ban the practice altogether. In late July, the Texas Senate passed a bill to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying. While still facing legislative hurdles, Texas leadership has made a clear statement that tax dollars should not be used to advocate for more government spending.
In the 1800s, Tennesseans came to Texas’s aid. Now, Texas may be returning the favor by showing that taxpayer-funded lobbying can be stopped. It’s a powerful testament to what is possible when leaders listen to their constituents. It’s time for Tennessee’s legislative leaders to do the same. They must stop this wasteful practice, restore transparency, and ensure our tax dollars are spent on the people, not on a self-serving cycle of influence. Let’s end this practice once and for all in the Volunteer State.
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Jason Edmonds is the deputy director of policy at the Beacon Center of Tennessee, the state’s oldest and most prestigious think tank.
