Since State Representative Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) was first elected to the Texas Legislature in 2014, special interest money has played a big role in his campaigns and in his voting record in the Texas House. Rinaldi certainly hears his special interest campaign contributors loud and clear, but he won’t listen to us.
In less than four years, Rinaldi has raked in more than half a million dollars from special interest groups and political action committees (PACs) across the state. His top contributor is party and single issue groups who have donated over $200,000. Other contributors who have given more than $30,000 include anti-consumer and school privatization groups. Matt Rinaldi has played the political money game better than most.
Texans know all too well how big money influences decision making by elected officials. It’s exactly what special interest groups and PACs count on when they contribute to political campaigns. These groups help Matt Rinaldi’s career, and they expect him to vote their way in Austin. The special interests win session after session, and too often the public loses.
In office, Matt Rinaldi has given his contributors an excellent return on their investment, while stiffing everyday Texans. While taking thousands from construction interests, he voted against creating a committee to study problems with construction contracts and voted to prohibit local government from regulating new construction. Rinaldi even opposed legislation to fund expanded pre-kindergarten in Texas.
We won’t get the tax relief we need as long as the corporations are getting their tax cuts first. We won’t get better schools if the privatization interests still give millions. We won’t get the consumer protection we deserve- on insurance, from utilities, from corporations; As long as the business lobbyists have their deals and willing politicians like Matt Rinaldi. We need honest government, and real transparency. We need to Reform Austin.
Matt Rinaldi doesn't listen to Texans
