CHRONICLE ARTICLE ON "TAX-COLLECTION VENDORS TIED TO LAWMAKERS, OFFICIALS":
Tax-collection Vendors Tied to Lawmakers, Officials by Ericka Mellon and Mike Morris
May 26, 2014 Houston Chronicle
Houston city leaders are preparing to decide whether their longtime vendor for collecting back taxes--a law firm with numerous public officials on its payroll--should share its multimillion-dollar contract with a competitor that enjoys its own political connections.
The City Council is scheduled to consider the collections contract Wednesday after months of lobbying. Similar battles play out regularly in cities, counties and school districts across Texas as the two rival firms exert their influence...