EAO 575

A specific-purpose committee’s contributions and expenditures would trigger section 253.007’s restrictions on the lobbying activity of candidates and officeholders, if the candidate or officeholder has the authority to control the contributions accepted and expenditures made by the specific-purpose committee. Contributions accepted by a political committee controlled by a candidate or officeholder are accepted “as a candidate or officeholder.” Tex. Elec. Code § 253.007(b). Furthermore, expenditures made by a political committee controlled by a candidate or officeholder are knowingly made or authorized by the candidate or officeholder. Id.