Kevin, over at BlogHouston points us to Greg Whythe’s questions regarding Mayor White’s decision to back down on using taxpayer funds to pay dues in an organization that lobbies against limiting tax increases. The mayor has chosen to ask private sources to raise the $68,000 fee.

Doesn’t that private funding for public services put things at the whim of the mayor just a bit too much? And if it’s deemed that there’s nothing improper about this funding mechanism, then where’s the fundraising group for putting more cops on the street?

Those are good questions, but I think I raised a better one as far back as the pension mess: Just who is it that’s funding these little efforts of the Mayor, and why? Maybe Hizzoner will tap Jack to run the fundraising effort again?

You know, it’s just a thought, but if private citizens donate money to pay for a public entity’s fees, can their identities be requested through the Texas Public Information Act? What might we discover through such a tactic? And wouldn’t it be interesting indeed if the city refused to give out the information, even to the point of requesting an A.G. ruling?

Someone call the Harris County GOP and whisper in their ear. . .