Former governor’s aide now lobbying for gaming firm

Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005 | 9:11 a.m.

AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry's former chief of staff is now a lobbyist for one of the nation's largest manufacturers of video lottery systems.

When Mike Toomey still worked for the governor, he had authorized the state lottery to hire a Las Vegas law firm to study the legalization of video lottery gambling.

Lobby registrations released by the Texas Ethics Commission show Toomey has registered as a lobbyist for Multimedia Games of Austin, and is being paid $10,000 to $25,000.

Multimedia describes itself on its Internet site as the "leading gaming technology provider to Native American tribes nationwide" and a company that designs gaming systems for the "video lottery gaming markets."

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said the governor has a strong ethics policy that prevents Toomey from lobbying the governor's office for at least one calendar year. Toomey left the governor's office last September.

"The governor is focused on his priorities for this legislative session and not on the client list of any lobbyist," Walt said.

As Perry's chief of staff in December 2003, Toomey authorized the Texas lottery to hire the Las Vegas law firm of Lionel Sawyer & Collins to develop legislation to legalize video lottery terminals at racetracks and on Indian land in Texas.