The Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG) Education Fund is the research arm of the Texas Public Interest Research Group, an Austin-based lobbying group that focuses on left-of-center causes including restricting private donations in elections, combatting climate change, expanding public transportation, increasing government control of health care, and imposing “net neutrality.” ¹ TexPIRG Education Fund largely issues reports that support the activist priorities of its parent, TexPIRG. ²

Background

Formed as the nonprofit arm of TexPIRG in 2004, ³ TexPIRG Education Fund is run by Luke Metzger, a longtime environmentalist activist who simultaneously works as the Executive Director of Environment Texas. ⁴

Environment Texas a member of the Public Interest Network and advocates against fossil fuels and in favor of “green energy.” ⁵ Groups in this network have been deemed the “Liberal Sweatshop” for their labor practices. ⁶

Activities

TexPIRG Education Fund focuses primarily on three issues: stopping antibiotic use in farming, increasing the use of public transportation, and restricting private donations in elections. ⁷ On the subject of elections, the organization alleges that “a small number of super-wealthy individuals and corporations” decide who wins campaigns, and it advocates overturning the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC and taxpayer financing of campaigns. ⁸

TexPIRG Education Fund also engages in climate change activism, which relates to its advocacy for increased use of public transit and reduction in use of cars. The organization proposes taxing carbon and subsidizing so-called green energy sources ⁹ while expanding use of electric cars and busses. ¹⁰

TexPIRG Education Fund advocated for broad-based societal shutdowns after the COVID-19 pandemic started. ¹¹

1. “Stop Highway Boondoggles.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://texpirg.org/feature/txp/stop-highway-boondoggles
2. “About TexPIRG Eduction Fund.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4 ,2022. https://texpirgedfund.org/page/txf/about-texpirg-education-fund
3. “TexPIRG Education Fund.” GuideStar. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-2422392
4. “Luke Metzger.” LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-metzger/
5. “Action for a greener, healthier Texas.” Environment Texas. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://environmenttexas.org/feature/txe/about-us
6. Rosiak, Luke. “The Liberal Sweatshop.” The Daily Beast. July 15, 2009. Accessed January 22, 2019. https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-liberal-sweatshop
7. ^[1] “About TexPIRG Eduction Fund.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4 ,2022. https://texpirgedfund.org/page/txf/about-texpirg-education-fund
8. “Democracy for the People.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://texpirgedfund.org/issues/mdf/democracy-people-0
9. “Climate Solutions.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://texpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/climate-solutions
10. “Transform Transportation.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://texpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/transform-transportation-0
11. “Covid-19: Open Safely Save Lives.” TexPIRG Eduction Fund. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://texpirgedfund.org/feature/usf/together-against-covid