Eagle Forum asks SBOE to investigate conflict of interest

[w8liftinglady]

(Any comments on THIS editorial in my paper)

http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2011/01/22/opinion/doc4d3bbd9c2dab0657572596.txt

AUSTIN, Texas — At the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting on Wednesday January 19, 2011, new board member Thomas Rataliff had to constantly recuse himself because of conflicts of interest between his position on the board and his job as a lobbyist.

These conflicts of interests have not gone unnoticed by the public as Pat Carlson, president of Texas Eagle Forum, testified before the SBOE Friday. Mrs. Carlson read the Texas Education Code, Subchapter A, Sec. 7.103 which states: “A person who required to register as a lobbyist.....by virtue of the person’s activities for compensation in or on behalf of a profession, business, or association related to the operation of the board, may not serve as a member of the board or act as the general counsel to the board.”

Thomas Ratliff has been registered as a lobbyist with the Texas Ethics Commission since 1998. Microsoft is one of his most lucrative clients earning him between $25,000 - $50,000 each year. This one client has the potential of having the most glaring conflict of interest between the SBOE and Mr. Ratliff, because Microsoft is one of the top five publicly traded companies of the Permanent School Fund (PSF). The SBOE is the caretaker of the PSF. Microsoft stock was worth $157.16 million as of September 2010.

The Microsoft connection should also cause additional concern because Bill and Melinda Gates have been behind the Obama Administration’s Common Core Standards/Race to the Top agenda. Governor Rick Perry and Commissioner of Education Robert Scott have rejected these standards on behalf of Texans.

Mrs. Carlson never mentioned Thomas Ratliff’s name but it was apparent who should be investigated. “We live in a country that follows the rule of law and Texas voters want to be sure our elected officials are ethically and legally in line with our laws,” stated Mrs. Carlson. “I would ask the Chair and the TEA Commissioner to petition for an investigation to assure all Texans that our SBOE members are complaint with this law.”

The request for investigation should now be made to the Texas Attorney General’s office.

[Hannah Bell]

1. for once i applaud the eagle forum. dollars to donuts he's a plant.

the deformers have planted people all over the country.

[w8liftinglady]

2. You are one of the people I was hoping would respond... Thanks!

[rpannier]

3. The Eagle Forum I'm shocked

I'm glad they've brought this to the attention of people -- they certainly have the money and clout to get people to pay attention
I agree with Hannah that this guy is probably a plant

[Hannah Bell]

4. politics sometimes makes strange bedfellows. i can see how some conservatives

would have big problems with the gates-broad-walmart education agenda. local control, for starters. i've been wondering why we weren't hearing more from them.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Isn't that Phyllis Shitfly's group?

Those people are nuts.

[tanyev]

6. Trouble is, Ratliff was the lesser of two evils.

I voted for him in the GOP primary because it meant finally getting rid of uber-conservative Don McLeroy. Here is a statement Ratliff released during the campaign:


If you want to have a real discussion about the issue, then call me or email me, but don’t make assumptions like “Our conclusion is that Ratliff is a closeted creationist, but one who has slick relationships with the state legislature.” without doing some work. It’s easy to lob cheap shots from your blog, but come on, ask a few questions instead of making an assumption.

The answer you are looking for is this. I believe the Bible tells us who created the Earth and why and science tells us when it was created and how. Neither can tell the other’s story.

I do not believe the Earth is a mere 6,000 years old, but in fact millions and millions of years old.

I do believe that God created all things, but I don’t want a school teacher talking to my kids about theology in science class.

My family attends church to reinforce our religious beliefs and we send our kids to science class to reinforce their learning of science.

If you would like to discuss this more, please contact me and please try to refrain from any more blind assumptions.

Rest assured, I will be updating my website with my positions on several issues, not just this one.

Finally, I think this issue has become a MUCH larger issue than it should have been at the SBOE. When Tincy Miller chaired the board and they adopted the science standards, it wasn’t nearly the sideshow distraction that it was last year.
http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/thomas-ratliff-don-mcleroys-opponent-speaks/



The lobbyist issues are troubling, but I don't think that's the real reason why the EAGLE FORUM is after him.