AUSTIN, TEXAS (CNN Money/Covering Katy) – A CNN investigation has outlined the influence of a Texas-based law firm that specializes in debt collection – a firm you’ve probably never heard of unless you’ve fallen behind on your Katy Independent School District taxes. The law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson is the Katy school district’s debt collector, and it performs the same function for numerous governmental agencies all over Texas and in other states too.

Linebarger has countless politicians – from school board members to state lawmakers – on its side, according to CNN. The Cable News Network reports that Linebarger spends big money to keep our elected leaders on their side. Sometimes it has even put current elected officials on its payroll.

Even in Katy’s current school board race, where the incumbents are running against two relatively unknown challengers, Linebarger is there to hand out money. Linebarger has contributed to incumbents Bryan Michalsky and Charles Griffin. Each man received $500. It’s a race that costs a relatively small amount to run. Even so, Linebarger’s contribution is the largest single donation on Griffin’s most recent report, and the second largest single contribution on Michalsky’s most recent report. The 30 day reports show that challengers John Pendergraff and Leonard Ledford have not taken contributions from Linebarger.