Lobbyists on the prowl in Texas

Here's a timely reminder that lobbyist reform needs to start at home.

AUSTIN — A Houston Democratic lawmaker complained Friday that lobbyists may be violating the law by calling House members with promises they will benefit if they support Speaker Tom Craddick for a third term in January.

Rep. Jessica Farrar, a Craddick opponent, said members and members-elect, whom she refused to name, also are being threatened if they don't vote for Craddick.

It's easy to get so focused on Congressional corruption in DC that we forget the lobbyists have concentrated a lot of resources at the state level. When we push for reform, it will important to address local reforms as well or else the big lobbyists will simply redirect their efforts to skewing the laws state by state instead.