Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst hosted a reception Thursday benefiting state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, at the Headliners Club of Austin, and a slew of lobbyists were invited.

During the heat of a special election, Birdwell railed against his Republican opponent and former Sen. David Sibley for his lobbying activities.

“The runoff election is a clear choice between a conservative citizen legislator and a lobbyist,” he said in a statement in May. “I believe the people will send a message that this state Senate seat does not belong to lobbyists or special interests; it belongs to the people.”

Brian Birdwell was critical of runoff opponent David Sibley’s lobbying activities during their election in June.
Rod Aydelotte/Tribune-Herald

After winning the election in June, Birdwell toned down his rhetoric but said he would take checks only from those lobbyists and political action committees whose goals are in line with the positions he espoused while a candidate.

Several lobbying watchdogs in Austin said Birdwell’s reception marks a common trend: a challenger who was critical of special-interest groups on the campaign trail adopts a new tone once elected.

“Unfortunately, candidates are much stronger reformers than incumbents,” said Craig McDonald, Texans for Public Justice’s executive director.

McDonald’s group had highlighted Sibley’s lobbying prowess and his client list during the special election, while Birdwell and two other Sibley special election foes took shots at him for his work as a lobbyist.

Sibley, who retired after a decade in the Senate in 2002, became one of the most high-powered and high-earning lobbyists in the state.

In a statement released Thursday, Birdwell said just because he takes a check from a PAC doesn’t mean he’ll be doing the group’s work in the Capitol.

“(I’m) happy to have the support of groups in Austin who didn’t originally back my candidacy,” Birdwell said. “As President Ronald Reagan once said, ‘Just because someone supports me doesn’t mean I support them.’ ”

Birdwell said the event would help him recoup expenses stemming from defending his eligibility in the face of a Democratic lawsuit.

Regardless of what Birdwell’s reception raises money to pay for, Tom “Smitty” Smith — director of the Texas office of consumer advocacy group Public Citizen — said it represents business as usual in Austin.

“It’s sort of like the rock ’n’ roll song: ‘Meet the new boss, same as the old boss,’ ” Smith said.

“That’s how it works in Austin,” Smith said. “Lobbyists and PACs contribute to winners, and pretty soon they’re your best friends.

“After an election, it’s almost impossible to retire that personal debt unless you go to the lobby.”

According to filings with the Texas Ethics Commission, Birdwell loaned his campaign more than $150,000, marking a box to demonstrate his intention for the money to be repaid.

Birdwell said he and his wife “have no expectation of recouping those loans anytime soon.”

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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