Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ The 2019 Texas inauguration for @GregAbbott_TX and @DanPatrick cost a record $5.3 million.

Every single dollar was spent. But officials aren't giving us receipts. They claim no such records exist.

So we're suing. #txlege

bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 2/ The inauguration consisted of two days of VIP events that included a ball with George Strait and a candlelight dinner with top elected officials.

The money was raised mostly from lobbying firms, corporations, wealthy people and trade groups. bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 3/ We tried this summer to obtain expense records from multiple state agencies as well as the inaugural committee, a group of private donors appointed by Abbott and Patrick. They claim no such records exist. bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 4/ We filed a lawsuit last month under open records laws, seeking to discover what happened to the $5.3 million raised for the event.

The only accounting the committee has given the public is a one-page list of cash receipts and disbursements.

bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 5/ No taxpayer dollars were expended on the inaugural celebrations, according to the governor’s office. bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 6/ Bill Aleshire, the attorney representing the Tribune, said the expenditure of money by governmental entities — whether they get it from taxpayers or deep-pocketed contributors — is one of the “core pieces of information the public is entitled to see.” bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 7/ Why does this matter?

Candidates for state office in Texas are banned from taking corporate donations for their electoral campaigns.

But donations to the inauguration are not considered to be political contributions. bit.ly/2OuOfTb

@GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick 8/8 “This is another way for donors to have a connection to Texas politicians," says @bjrottinghaus.

Read more here. #txlege bit.ly/2OuOfTb