Watchdog Slams Texas AG Paxton’s Request for $43 Million to Sue Google

For Immediate Release

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) slammed Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton’s reported intent to use $43 million of Texas taxpayer dollars to fund a ridiculous lawsuit against Google.

In response, TPA Vice President of Policy Patrick Hedger offered the following statement:

“In a time of unprecedented economic pain, AG Ken Paxton has the audacity to ask taxpayers to fund a wild goose chase masquerading as an antitrust suit to salvage what’s left of his own political career.

“The fact is that Google faces significant and growing competitive pressure in the markets at the core of its business. For example, Amazon continues to grow in the space of commercial search and online advertising as Google’s market share recedes. The idea that an antitrust suit from Texas is warranted here, especially given existing federal efforts, is ludicrous.

“Just ask any Texas taxpayer, $43 million is real money. This is especially egregious during a pandemic when every dollar should be spent wisely to help Texans, not a political career. While AG Paxton is wasting taxpayer dollars on lawyers and bureaucrats, the sports blog Barstool Sports has helped save 77 small businesses with less than half of what Paxton has requested. Texans shouldn’t be asked to fund Paxton’s tilting at windmills now, let alone ever again.

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.