Focus Groups: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

Are you aware that Tennessee’s 30 largest cities spend more than $1.4 million a year to hire private lobbyists to advocate for bigger government at the state Capitol in Nashville? That doesn’t even include the state’s remaining cities, 95 counties, 147 school districts, and nearly 200 public utility districts, many of which also hire their own lobbyists. Many taxpayers are also unaware of this fact, but when they are made aware, they overwhelmingly oppose the practice, according to Beacon Poll data.

We also asked our February 2026 focus group participants about the issue and how they feel their tax dollars are being spent, which you can see above. What do you think about your local tax dollars going to fund lobbyists at the state and federal levels? Let us know!