Group Says TXU, Buyers Spent $17 Million Wooing Legislature

AUSTIN, TX. (AP) – TXU Corporation and the private equity firms trying to buy it spent about $17 million dollars on lobbyists and advertising during the most recent session of the Texas Legislature.

That’s according to a report by a group that tracks political spending. The Legislature considered but rejected bills that could have spoiled the pending $32 billion dollar TXU buyout by New York-based KKR and Fort Worth-based TPG Capital. Texans for Public Justice says TXU lobbyists reported the company and its would-be buyers spent about:

$11million dollars on advertising. $6 million dollars on lobbyists. $180,000 to entertain lawmakers and their staffs.

The advocacy group said TXU hired 65 lobbyists during the legislative session, and the investors trying to buy the company hired another 21 lobbyists. The highest-paid lobbyist — at $351,000 — was former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk.

TXU spokeswoman Lisa Singleton said the company reported employees as lobbyists even if lobbying “may only be a small part of their overall job.”

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)