Advocacy group Accuracy in Media called on Rep. Gary VanDeaver to support school choice ahead of his runoff primary election next week.
Adam Guillette, president of Accuracy in Media (AIM), traveled to New Boston to protest outside VanDeaver’s (R-New Boston) home and office building on Tuesday, demanding the lawmaker “stop doing the bidding of teachers unions.”
The group brought a truck to display signs stating that VanDeaver “likes tax dollars more than he likes taxpayers.”
Another sign spotlighted the headline of a story by The Dallas Express that exposed how VanDeaver took campaign donations from lobbyist groups tied to government entities. He previously voted against a bill to end taxpayer-funded lobbying in Texas.
“There is no doubt that this man is corrupt,” Guillette told The Dallas Express. “Taxpayer funding should be illegal. And for a supposed fiscal conservative to be involved in taxpayer lobbying and lobbying against the interests of his constituents, double dipping paychecks is morally outrageous.”
“It’s the kind of thing we’d expect from Nancy Pelosi or in a deep-blue district, but this occurring in such a tremendously conservative area,” he continued. “It’s outrageous.”
TX State Rep. Gary VanDeaver treats blocking school choice like a full-time gig! Parents deserve options, not obstacles. Tell Rep VanDeaver to stop doing the bidding of teachers unions by visiting https://t.co/KIZF6QEdoN. pic.twitter.com/JhFk2k7RLz
— Adam Guillette (@adamguillette) May 21, 2024
VanDeaver worked as a paid consultant from 2020 to 2022 for Powell Law Group, a lobbying entity that represents public schools, as reported by DX. The gig came while he served on education-related House committees. Last year, he voted against a bill that would have established education savings accounts in Texas, which families would have been able to use to defray the costs of homeschooling or private school with taxpayer money.
“Texas has fewer school choice options than California and New York,” Guillette told The Dallas Express. “It’s morally reprehensible and an embarrassment to the Lone Star State. It’s out-of-touch politicians like VanDeaver who stand in the way of it — who put teacher unions ahead of families, parents, and children. And, of course, it’s no surprise he puts the teacher union first because he’s paid by them.”
VanDeaver did not respond to a request for comment. He faces a runoff primary election on May 28 against Chris Spencer.