February 28, 2023      11:50 AM

Former Speaker Bonnen and Shera Eichler formally announce creation of Second Floor Strategies, a strategic consulting firm

With controversies resolved, the former Speaker and his team are back in the game

Now that the Texas Ethics Commission has ruled on the propriety and terms of former Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s return to advocacy, he is formally announcing the creation of Second Floor Strategies. The new entity will include part of Bonnen’s Speaker team. In addition to Eichler, Zak Covar and Kolton McDougald

According to the release, Bonnen said, ““The end game of the legislative process happens on the second floor,” said Speaker Bonnen. “I understand the critical importance of an astute second-floor strategy and look forward to using my 24 years of experience to help our clients be successful where it matters most.”

The Ethics Commission ruled that the former Speaker followed the law by transferring campaign funds from a Special Purpose PAC (campaign) to a General Purpose PAC from which he could then appropriately contribute to the campaigns of others. However, the two-year prohibition on actual lobbying remains in effect. Bonnen left office of January, 2021 and has therefore completed the required hiatus. Although he does not plan to do direct lobbying, he has registered to lobby in an abundance of caution.

Bonnen told QR that he was simply following the lead of former Speaker Straus who had also transferred his funds from an SPAC to a GPAC.

By Harvey Kronberg

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