AUSTIN — Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Government Reform and Oversight Coalition (GROC) officially launched with a clear mission: to combat the forces that are driving runaway local spending, undermining property tax relief, and protecting an unaccountable education cartel that profits at taxpayers’ expense.
GROC will highlight a sophisticated system, built over decades by insiders, that diverts billions of tax dollars intended for classrooms into a network of taxpayer-funded lobbyists, vendors, consultants, associations, and political advocacy groups. The system relies on a combination of apathy, waste, and grift inside government, which is then exploited by unethical entities outside of government.
“Cities, counties, school districts, and taxpayer-funded associations across Texas spend millions of public dollars hiring lobbyists and political operatives to influence the Texas Legislature,” said Mandy Drogin, GROC Senior Fellow. “The result is self-interested government entities preserving their own power, blocking spending discipline, shielding waste, and protecting education profiteers.”
“If the education cartel network keeps getting its way, students will continue to be short-changed and state-provided tax relief will never reach taxpayers’ bills,” said Jose Melendez, GROC Campaign Director. “GROC is here to help Texas cut waste, cap spending, reform our broken systems, and roll back tax hikes.”
GROC will build momentum ahead of the 2027 Texas Legislative Session by educating taxpayers, engaging lawmakers, and advancing policy solutions that restore accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline.
Visit TXGROC.org for more resources and to sign up for updates.
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