A Texas lawmaker is calling for a deeper investigation into the Texas Association of School Boards, accusing the group of using taxpayer dollars to push left-wing policies in public schools.
During a hearing of the Delivering on Government Efficiency Committee (DOGE) in the Texas House, State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington) took aim at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), raising serious concerns about the organization’s use of taxpayer dollars, its policy positions, and potential lobbying efforts.
Liberal TASB is a taxpayer funded group using $90 million taxpayer $ for the purpose of DEI, men in women’s restrooms & keeping gender identity issues from parents as they indoctrinate kids in public schools.
It’s time for DOGE to dig deeper into TASB. Watch my questions here. pic.twitter.com/AuRkWMXhde
— Rep. Tony Tinderholt (@reptinderholt) March 12, 2025
Tinderholt, a vocal critic of TASB, repeatedly pressed a TASB representative on whether the group, which receives millions from school boards across the state, can be considered taxpayer-funded.
“Because you’re receiving millions in taxpayer funds, and because you’re providing legal and policy recommendations to school districts, I would venture to say that you are a taxpayer-funded lobbying group. Is that a fair assessment?” he asked.
Brian Bolinger, a TASB representative, hesitated to provide a clear answer.
“I Sir, I couldn’t answer that question,” said Bolinger.
The exchange also touched on TASB’s endorsement of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, which the Texas Legislature has moved to ban in higher education. Tinderholt pointed out that TASB previously included DEI in its mission statement and accused the organization of using taxpayer money to promote left-leaning policies in Texas schools.
“The organization you work for can’t say that they’re apolitical and take taxpayer funds, then lobby against 50% or more of taxpayers in the state of Texas by pushing liberal left policies like that,” he said.
Tinderholt referenced a 2023 call from the Republican Party of Texas urging school boards to disassociate from TASB, underscoring ongoing conservative efforts to curb taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas.
Bolinger states that such legislative efforts are decided by their annual delegate assembly.
“That delegate assembly is a culmination of hundreds of school board members from across the country, both urban, rural, large, small, Republican, Democrat which a microcosm of the state of Texas, and any statements that are made like that come directly from that delegate assembly,” said Bolinger.
“DOGE needs to dig deeper into TASB—what your organization does and supports, how you’re funded, how the money is spent, and whether it’s truly used to lobby against taxpayers and voters in the state of Texas,” said Tinderholt.
Ending taxpayer-funded lobbying is a legislative priority of the Republican Party of Texas. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has prioritized a measure to ban the practice in the Senate.
