CALL TO ACTION! STOP SB334!

SB334, this session's version of Voucher Expansion, was amended in the House and has returned to the senate for a vote to concur, vote down, or let it die. This session has proven interesting, to say the least.  Not only are votes looking more partisan when final votes are taken on Education measures, they also appear to be quite contentious between the GOP members of the House and Senate.  This could be positive for PUBLIC school advocates, as we were already able to STOP HB1004 and SB10 by speaking out, tweeting, emailing, calling, and posting concerns to our elected officials.  They have heard our outcry.  They know our displeasure.  They are aware of our concerns.  Now they must choose to ignore our voices during an election year or follow our urging and recognize our concerns by voting down any remaining bills destructive to PUBLIC education.  

This post asks you to once again contact your legislators, especially in the Senate, and urge them to VOTE NO on SB334.  It is time to shout out one more time to urge support for our PUBLIC schools by stopping destructive measures and financial fiasco.  SB334 (Voucher Expansion) once again straps the education budget to the favor of charter and private schools while draining our PUBLIC schools of much needed funds provided by Indiana's taxpayers.

Below is a graphic from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education detailing the immense sums of money being doled out for the "Choice Scholarships". Expanding these scholarships will further siphon money from PUBLIC schools in the already tight education budget.

Another graphic from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education shows the difference between voucher funded schools and our PUBLIC schools.  Taking funding from our PUBLIC schools does not seem fair when those schools receiving voucher money do not have to play by the same rules of providing for students.  If they are not expected to serve under the same requirements and standards, then they should not be receiving our PUBLIC tax dollars to fund their own agenda and pad the wallets of their corporate leaders.

Please take time to contact members of the Senate and ask them to stop draining our PUBLIC schools for corporate benefit and fund our PUBLIC schools without expanding vouchers and putting the money where it belongs.

Click here for twitter handles of legislators.

TUESDAY TATTLER 10

This is the Triple "T" Edition of Tuesday Tattler, as it is Tuesday Tattler TEN.  For this installment the tattler once again puts pressure on the Indiana Senate to VOTE NO on Voucher Expansion (HB 1003) and calls on public school advocates to focus on 10 specific Senators in making calls. 

WE CAN STILL DEFEAT HB1003 in the Senate

After passing two Senate committees last week, the voucher expansion bill (HB1003) did NOT come up for second reading Thursday. That means it has to get both second and third reading votes before the end of day this Wednesday.   Late this Monday afternoon, the senate began hearing amendments to HB 1003. Democrats offered one that would make a line-item for vouchers in the overall budget. This would allow for tracking the funding and also guarantee a certain amount for public education to have in its budget. This amendment was voted down by Republicans on a straight party line.

Remember: vouchers come out of the budget for public schools first and THEN the remaing moneis are distributed to public schools. It is important that all Senators hear from passionate public school advocates in the next 24 hours.  Lobbyists have been contacting Senators one by one, and your messages will add urgency. If we can defeat this bill in the Senate, we don't have to worry about battling it again in the House.

We most definitely CAN put an end to this fiasco that is robbing money from public schools and slow the destructive process current legislators seem hell bent on forcing onto our public schools.  For the most part, the overarching concern of those senators (all Republican) who are possibly waffling on this HB1003, is financial.  Remember that Senator Skinner of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee has said that they don't know and can't tell us just how much this bill will actually cost the public schools' budgets. How can they be fiscally responsible and support this?

Below are your Tuesday Tattler "10" to contact immediately!

Here is a list of some specific Senators to contact, along with reasons and rationale for making contact. Please make as many contacts as possible over the next few hours. It is vital that ALL senators hear the reasons why this bill is one of the most detrimental to PUBLIC education to come from the house so far. 

CONTACT THESE SENATORS SPECIFICALLY!! 

1.) Senator Mishler (R) of District 9 (Marshall County and Kosciusko County) said that , although he agrees with "choice" he has some major reservations. He is in the area near Warsaw and in his area there are almost no schools that one can use vouchers for! If you know anyone in that area, please let them know that they need to contact him and let him know that they, too, have deep concerns. For most of these waffling Republicans, my understanding is that they are worried about the cost. During the Tax and Fiscal Policy committee, Mishler said he "reserves the right to vote against it on the floor. " Let's all encourage him to vote NO and let him know that this bleeding of funds will hurt the public schools in his district. His email is: s9@iga.in.gov.

2.) Senator Zakas  (District 11) was first elected in 1982 and he may be a key vote. He is a Catholic and is probably getting a lot of pressure from Catholic school parents and schools. If you are Catholic or you know some Catholic school parents who don't believe in de-funding public schools, please try to contact him. Or if you know anyone in that area, of course. His email is : s11@iga.in.gov.

3.) Senator Landske  (District 6) She was originally sworn into the Senate in 1984. ( Lake County, Newton County, and Benton County area).  Senator Landske has fiscal concerns about this bill and needs to hear from as many constituents as possible asking her to be fiscally responsible and VOTE NO.  Tell Sue that 1003 is bad for her community! Tri-Creek and other schools will only suffer from voucher expansion!!! Her email is s6@iga.in.gov

4.) Senator Charbonneau ( District 5) (Valpo and Rensselear area) has shown that he has serious reservations about the A-F grading system of our schools. Now the HB1003 includes an amendment that would allow anyone in an "F" school district to take a voucher. A Kindergartner within an "A" elementary school district but that also has an "F" high school, could go straight to a private one. Let's encourage him to see the misuse of this grading system in this bill and, of course, the financial ramifications of these millions of dollars leaving our public school budget. Let's Remind Ed what he said at the Legislative Breakfast about 1003/vouchers being an Indianapolis issue, not Northwest Indiana. Tell him we expect him to vote with Northwest Indiana, not be complacent with the party line! His email is s5@iga.in.gov

5.) Senator Kenley (District 20, Hamilton County) had been wonderful at arguing against expanding these vouchers. His concerns are financial, but he also pointed out that they are doing a bait and switch type of thing by allowing wealthier families to receive these vouchers as well as not requiring so many kids to try the public schools first. He needs to be thanked for this and encouraged to vote against the bill. He has suggested that we have a study first to see how the vouchers are working for kids. Please encourage him to push for that before we expand the program. He also seems to be very concerned with the way special education will be hurt by this bill (see Vic's notes). His email is s20@iga.in.gov

6.) Senator Steele (District 44, Bedford, Columbus, Nashville area: Brown Co., Lawrence Co, Jackson Co. and some Monroe Co.) was concerned during the first voucher bill with accountability of the private schools. He added an amendment that was about something like civics and morals being taught in those voucher schools requiring some accountability. That provision for accountability was promptly tossed aside by Tony Bennett and crew. They only have to observe 5% (13 total) schools and have a very vague review of what goes on. Accountability as well as financial cost might be a good argument for him. Please let your friends know. Here's his email: s44@iga.in.gov

7.) Senator Bray, freshman senator whose family background does not support public education or fiscal education funding. District 37 (Morgan County and some Putnam. Martinsville) email: s37@iga.in.gov

8.) Senator Crider, like Bray, is new to the senate (so they didn't vote for vouchers in 2011) He is District 28. (Greenfield). Email s28@iga.in.gov

9. ) Senator Waltz, District 36 (Marion County and Norther Johnson County) In the Senate since 2004, he has an investment banking company, The Baron Group, Inc., which specializes in mergers, acquisitions, and capitalization of small to mid size private companies in the transportation and manufacturing industries.  This financial background should make him aware of the fiscal irresponsibility of VOUCHERS. His email is s36@iga.in.gov

10.) Senator Leising, District 42 (Rushville, Connersville) a member of the Education and Career Development committee, she should most definitely be aware of the destructive nature of this fiscally irresponsible legislation. s42@iga.in.gov


These senators should also hear from you with the financial concerns:

Senator Alting, District 22. See map His email is s22@iga.in.gov

Senator Becker, District 50 (Evansville area). Her email is s50@iga.in.gov

Senator Boots , District 23 ( Crawfordsville and Lebanon area). His email s23@iga.in.gov

Senator Head, District 18 His email s18@iga.in.gov

Senator Paul, District 27 (Richmond area) His email is s27@iga.in.gov

CALL TO ACTION - NO to HB1003

Tomorrow, April 8, 2013, your Indiana State Senate will take a vote on HB 1003 - Voucher Expansion. 

YOU MUST ACT NOW!

It is time to show our legislators the power of 1.3 million voices.  We spoke up in November and sent Tony Bennett to Florida when WE elected Glenda Ritz.  We need to speak up again and tell our senators to once again VOTE NO on HB 1003. 

Now is not the time to rob more money from our public schools in the form of vouchers for private school students.  We can not afford to continually take money from our PUBLIC schools to finance private parochial and charter school corporations.  We MUST stand up and be heard, loud and clear, once again.

Contact your Senators TODAY and let them know that you will accept nothing but a NO vote on this funding fiasco they call voucher expansion.  HB 1003 is a nightmare to our public schools. 


 

Click the Action button above to see what this bill does to PUBLIC schools.




22 Indiana Senators (out of 50) voted NO two years ago on the voucher bill. 
We need 26 to vote NO on the current voucher expansion bill!

 

That's how many State Senators WE need to vote NO on current voucher expansion bill.

26 Call them one-by-one and tell them to vote NO on HB 1003.

 

Just because the State Supreme court ruled they were okay, what's the rush? Why ram this bill through that will strip public money from local schools in a time when there is already NO new money?

If this bill passes, YOUR local school will be begging YOU for money in referendums, laying off more teachers, pushing 100's of fundraisers, cutting art/music and clubs, and reducing sports.

 

WAIT!!!!! They already do that - so multiply this by 100 times!!!!!

Vouchers aren't going anywhere. So, let's see if they work and how they can be funded without taking money from our already tight budgeted PUBLIC schools.

Email your State Senator, and call them. Then have 3 people you know do the same! TODAY

 

Click the image below to find contact information for your state senator.

 

 

 

Below is a list of Senators who need a little extra "push" and a reminder of what 1.3 million voices sound like when speaking in unison about our mission.  Let them know that we EXPECT them to act fiscally responsible toward our PUBLIC schools.  They must vote NO on HB 1003 to stop funnelling public tax dollars from PUBLIC schools to for profit private and charter schools and their corporate sponsors.

Banks, Jim - s017 - s17@iga.in.gov - R

Bray, Rodric - s037 - s37@iga.in.gov - R

Buck, Jim - s021 - s21@iga.in.gov - R

Charbonneau, Ed - s005 - s5@iga.in.gov - R

Kenley, Luke - s020 - s20@iga.in.gov - R

Kruse, Dennis - s014 - s14@iga.in.gov - R

Landske, Sue - s006 - s6@iga.in.gov - R

Schneider, Scott - s030 - s30@iga.in.gov - R

Walker, Greg - s041 - s41@iga.in.gov - R

Waltz, Brent - s036 - s36@iga.in.gov - R

TUESDAY TATTLER 9

So the Indiana Supreme Court ruled last week that the state's voucher program is legal; thus, allowing for public tax dollars to continue being used to finance private school tuition.

"We hold that the Indiana school voucher program, the choice scholarship program, is within the legislature's power under Article 8, Section 1, and that the enacted program does not violate either Section 4 or Section 6 of Article 1 of the Indiana Constitution," the justices wrote in the 5-0 decision.

It is important to note, that this ruling not only allows for a voucher program to finance private school tuition, but it also allows for these funds to be utilized for those private insititutions with a religious base.  Apparently the Supreme Court does not hold a belief that the Indiana Constitution calls for a separation of church and state when allowing our public tax dollars to finance the tuition of private paraochial schools.  However, just because the Supreme Court ruled vouchers to be constitutinally legal, it does not mean that they should be rapidly and continually expanded at the expense of our state's public schools.

At the legislative level the next step for the Voucher Expansion Bill (HB 1003) is the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. Since HB 1003 had a fiscal cost, it was recommitted to the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee for approval in their final meeting this morning.  Senator Kenley is a member of this committee, so it would seem that his amendments will be accepted to reduce the fiscal cost and thus move the bill out of committee and to the full senate for a vote.  This could happen anytime between April 4 and April 10 making it vital for ALL senators to hear from PUBLIC education supporters in opposition to the Voucher Expansion Bill.

It is important to note that, even though Representative Robert Behning has assumed passage from the introduction of this bill,  that 21 current Senators voted against vouchers in 2011. That group forms a strong base for opposition to voucher expansion.  They should be thanked for their vote and asked to continue to vote against vouchers. They are: Republican Senators Alting, Becker, Boots, Head, Mishler, Nugent, Tomes, Waterman and Zakas. (9)
Democrat Senators Arnold, Breaux, Broden, Hume, Lanane, Mrvan, Randolph, Rogers, Skinner, Tallian, Taylor, Richard Young. (12)

It is just as important to note that there are 25 Senators who voted for vouchers in 2011 who are currently in the Senate. They should be reminded about the new additional fiscal costs for vouchers given to students who are already in private schools and asked to vote against expanding the voucher program at this time. They are: Republican Senators Banks, Buck, Charbonneau, Delph, Eckerty, Glick, Grooms, Hershman, Holdman, Kenley, Kruse, Landske, Leising, Long, Merritt, Pat Miller, Paul, Schneider, Smith, Steele, Walker, Waltz, Wyss, Yoder, and Michael Young,

There are also 4 Senators who are new to the Senate and did not vote on vouchers in 2011. They should be asked to hold to the original program and not expand vouchers due to the new excessive fiscal costs. They are: Republican Senators Bray, Crider and Pete Miller and Democrat Senator Stoops.

As you make your calls, send your emails, and write letters, be firm in your stance and remind your senators that this fiscal impact is not to be perceived as an effort to assist private school parents with tuition support, but it is a blatant swipe at our PUBLIC schools and robs them of much needed monies during some rough economic times.  It is vital that we make a strong push to encourage our senators to vote down HB1003 and leave the voucher program at current levels and hold of expanding an already costly program. 

Connecting the Dots: ALEC......to......Indiana - PART 3



Click here to Review Part 2

By Heath Johnson

Attack on Teachers Unions

Other "model" legislation has ALEC's DNA all over it.   Consider SB 312 (Sen. Jim Smith-R) or HB 1334 (Rep. Jeff Thompson and Rep. Woody Burton), which prohibits a school employer from deducting union dues from a teacher's salary.

This piece of legislation was adopted by the Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force at the States and Nation Policy Summit, December 2, 1998 and was approved by the ALEC Board of Directors January 1999.

http://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c9/1R9-Public_Employer_Payroll_Deduction_Policy_Act_Exposed.pdf

Language from this model legislation was reintroduced by Goldwater Institute representative, Byron Schlomach.

More on Virtual Schools
2011's HEA 1002 set into motion the establishment of virtual charter schools in Indiana.  Some of these schools, by the way, employ teachers in other states.  Choice scholarships may now be used to pay student tuition as well as the salaries of these out-of-state teachers.   At the same time, the Republican legislature supported huge cuts to the public education budget, leading to the loss of thousands of Indiana teaching jobs.  Both the choice scholarship legislation and the virtual school language are ALEC-derived.  The choice scholarship is set to be expanded in the 2013 session.   While conservative state lawmakers supported the Mitch Daniels budget slashes to public education, leading to thousands of teacher layoffs, those same lawmakers supported legislation to expand virtual schools.

http://www.thenation.com/article/164651/how-online-learning-companies-bought-americas-schools?page=0,0

As mentioned earlier, the Virtual Public Schools Act was presented on December 4, 2004.  This act provides students and families the choice of using virtual schools to "further the education" of their children.  Model legislation was authored by two virtual school companies,  K12 Inc. and Connections Academy.

So, how has K12 Inc. performed?  Not well here in Indiana and not well in other states.  While managing 2 of the 7 failing charter schools sponsored by Ball State University, they have had huge problems in other "education reform" states as well. 

This ALEC model legislation was also introduced verbatim in Tennessee.  Tennessee’s State Rep. Harry Brooks and State Sen. Dolores Gresham,both ALEC Education Task Force members, introduced the bill to their respective houses nearly verbatim, even using the same title (http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/01/kappan_underwood.html). 

Tennessee:  K12Inc has sponsored school in Tennessee was just caught doctoring grades.  They have the internal emails where management directed its teachers to review their grade books and delete assignments that had an abnormally high number of failing grades.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/21129693/email-directs-teachers-to-delete-bad-grades

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/12/republican-backed-for-profit-school-caught-deleting-bad-student-grades/

Florida:  K12Inc is under investigation in Florida for allegedly using non-certified teachers and instructing certified teachers to sign class rosters that included students they hadn’t taught.

http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2012/09/11/florida-investigates-k12-nations-largest-online-educator/

http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2012/09/30/florida-districts-fight-k12s-plan-for-virtual-charter-schools-more-flexibility-or-less-oversight/

Georgia:  K12Inc is under investigation in Georgia for allegedly violating "critical federal special education laws and regulations."

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/georgia-doe-blasts-georgia-cyber-academy-threatens/nTBmZ/

Colorado:  "...the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) at the University of Colorado shows that students at K12 Inc., ....are falling further behind in reading and math scores than students in brick-and-mortar schools" and "are also less likely to remain at their schools for the full year, and the schools have low graduate rates."

http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2012/07/understanding-improving-virtual 

Remember:  "It's all about the kids."    So, given K12 Inc's shaky track record, how has it managed its finances?   K12 Inc's (ticker symbol LRN) corporate revenue and profits are at an all-time high and that annual trend is looking to continue.  That makes sense, considering Republican legislatures from around the country passed legislation opening the door for virtual schools.

Balance Sheet 

Notice what happens to K12Inc's bottom line right after the nationwide expansion of virtual schools and the use of vouchers to pay for it.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=LRN+Balance+Sheet&annual

Income Statement

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=LRN+Income+Statement&annual

These are but a few examples and, as you've probably gathered, I'm ready for a fight.   I want a representative government, one whose legislators understand that they are our employees not one whose legislators are sucking at the corporate teat.  

Help Connect the Dots and End the Cigar Parties

In early February, 2013 I engaged Sen. Brandt Hershman and Rep. Heath VanNatter about their involvement with ALEC and ALEC's role in authoring legislation.   Sen. Hershman responded by claiming, "the idea that corporations are feeding legislation to us is just silly." -- Refer to the 2/19/2013 edition of the Frankfort Times. 

Also, February 2013, I chose to email the Indiana General Assembly about SB 312 and HB 1334, outlining my objections and what I knew about ALEC.  I received a reply from Senator Jim Buck (ALEC State Chairman and ALEC Board of Directors), where he insinuated that I was drunk and not qualified to be a teacher.  How am I supposed to respond to that?   We educate and we fight.   

Educate everyone and demand that your legislators be held accountable with respect to their actions with ALEC!   Expose ALEC legislators and identify ALEC-authored legislation.   I've found that most people have no clue who ALEC is and how they affect their lives.   That must change or the corporate-sponsored cigar parties will continue. 

Below are some important links which may help get you started.

Commoncause.org has filed a complaint about ALEC with the IRS.   They have collected and released over 4,000 pages of ALEC documents.  The 35-day taskforce mailers, outlining "model bills" are here:

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8097075

The ALEC Bylaws from 2007 (the latest I could find)., outlining who gets to vote (corporations and legislators) are here:

http://www.prwatch.org/files/ALEC_bylaws.pdf

NPR's Bill Moyers has produced an incredible documentary outlining what ALEC is doing.

http://billmoyers.com/segment/united-states-of-alec/

ALEC Explained in 5 Minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azSUHpAb_E4

A list of ALEC Corporations (use this and followthemoney.org to track campaign financing)

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Corporations

ALEC Exposed is a great site to research model bills, ALEC member corporations, and AEC legislators.

http://alecexposed.org

http://alecexposed.org/wiki/Bills_Affecting_Americans%27_Rights_to_a_Public_Education



Connecting the Dots: ALEC.....to.....Indiana - PART 2



CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 1

By Heath Johnson

The "Right" to Know:   Think Again

Call me crazy, but it's my belief that we, as constituent voters, should have the right to know if our legislators are attending ALEC meetings, getting free hotel accommodations, reimbursed travel expenses, free drinks, free meals, free cigars, and.... free corporate-crafted legislation.   This legislation impacts our classrooms and our ability to teach, it impacts our students and their parents, and it impacts the community as a whole.   Well, I guess I'm wrong.   According to an email I received (dated 5/15/12) from the chief counsel for the House Republican Caucus, we don't have a right to such information,

"...the Indiana Supreme Court has held that the provisions of the Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”) do not apply to the Indiana House of Representatives.  In Masariu v. The Marion Superior Court No. 1, 621 N.E.2d. 1097 (Ind. 1993), the Indiana Supreme Court determined that it would not intervene in the internal affairs of the legislative branch of government and that it is up to the legislative branch to decide its own internal procedural rules.

In the time between my May 4 response to your email and today, I contacted the Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) to get guidance on the issue, even though the APRA does not apply to the House of Representatives.  I was advised by the PAC that we are not required to create a list to satisfy an open records request.  [See page 25 of the Handbook on Indiana’s Public Access Laws which you can download here:  http://www.in.gov/pac/files/pac_handbook.pdf or I.C. 5-14-3-3(f).]" 

In other words, constituent voters have no right to know if their legislators are engaging in such activities.  In fact, I think this was the email that finally did it for me.   Following this, I made it my mission to expose Indiana's ALEC members, ALEC legislation, and the ALEC "corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests" (Wisconsin State Rep. Mark Pocan).  ALEC's DNA Here are some documents that I've found which helped me understand just how extensive ALEC's influence has been with pushing and passing the education reform legislation.

Prior to ALEC Taskforce meetings the "charitable organization" mails out a packet of information to its members.   Referred to as the 35-day Mailer, it includes the model bills, agenda, registration fees, and information about free hotel accommodations and travel reimbursement.   

Linked below is the ALEC Taskforce 35-day Mailer for the December, 2010 Washington D.C. ALEC taskforce "summit".

http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/ed_35daymailing-dc.pdf

Much of the "model" legislation in this "Taskforce packet" was authored ad sponsored by the Goldwater Institute and much of it was introduced and/or passed in Florida prior to being pushed in Indiana.   The huge model bill in this packet is referred to the  "A-Plus Literacy Act" and it incorporates "model" legislation already adopted by ALEC.   Discussion and voting was sponsored by Matt Ladner, The Goldwater Institute and moderated by Ms. Mickey Revenaugh, Connections Academy, Private Sector Task Force Chair

Page 15 - School A-F grading "model" legislation
Page 18 - School bonus money grant "model" legislation

Page 19 - School choice scholarship "model" legislation

Page 30 - Private school tax credit "model" legislation

Page 36 - REPA II "model" legislation - alternative teacher certification.

Page 38 - I-Read 3 "model" legislation

Page 70 - Parent Trigger "model" legislation (authored by the Heartland Institute)

Page 121 -  Language outlining Taskforce Member free hotel accommodations and reimbursement of travel expenses.

Specifically, the Parent Trigger bill (HB 1358) in the Indiana General Assembly was written by the Heartland Institute. 

This piece of legislation was authored and presented by the Heartland Institute at the December 3rd, 2010 at the ALEC Education Task Force Meeting held at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.   Discussion and voting on this original model legislation occurred at 5:05 p.m. on December 3rd, 2010.   It was sponsored by Marc Oestreich, Heartland Institute. and moderated by Ms. Mickey Revenaugh, Connections Academy, Private Sector Task  Force Chairman.
The legislation was authored by (page 99 of the pdf):

Joseph Bast, president of The Heartland Institute
Ben Boychuk, managing editor of The Heartland Institute’s School Reform News
Bruno Behrend, J.D., director of the Center for School Reform at The Heartland Institute
Marc Oestreich, legislative specialist on education and telecommunications at The Heartland Institute

AGENDA of this ALEC 35-day Mailing (page 8 of the pdf)
MODEL BILL (page 70 of the pdf)

See Heartland Institute's statement on the 2013 Indiana bill.

http://heartland.org/press-releases/2013/02/13/heartland-institute-education-expert-reacts-indiana-parent-trigger-bill-pa

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3

Connecting the Dots: ALEC.....to......Indiana - PART1

Ritz-Carlton Resort Amelia Island

By Heath Johnson

In late 2010, I started to chart a new course in my life, as I began to study the "education reform" legislation which was being proposed by our Republican legislature.   Prior to that, I simply went about the business of shaping young minds and preparing them for the next step in their educational lives, not really paying much attention to politics.      

By the time the Indiana 2011 legislative session began, I had that deer-in-the-headlights look.  Like many other educators from around the state, I was staring down the wave of the "education reform" tsunami.  I felt threatened and unappreciated.  Apparently, I'd been failing my students all these years.  Since the fall of 2010, I had been studying the language of the proposed legislation, then I'd send links to the bills to my colleagues.  I began writing and meeting with my legislators, educating my friends and family, and even started a public education Facebook page, all in an effort to raise awareness.   The more bills I found, the more out of control it all seemed.

At some point I stopped to ask myself , "When did our legislators turn crazy?  Why are they attacking us?  Where did this divisive legislation come from?"  At that point, I started.....connecting the dots.    I'm a science person.   It's in my nature to trace things to their origin, to dissect things, to look at the parts of the sum and the sum of the parts.   As traced the genesis of much of the reform legislation, I'd arrive at one place........... ALEC.

Who is ALEC?

So, who.... is ALEC?  At  the time,  I didn't know.   However, today, I feel like I know them well.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a group of conservative state lawmakers, former conservative state lawmakers, and corporate lobbyists from member corporations and special interest groups.  They meet to discuss, revise, and adopt "business-friendly" model legislation they wish to pass at the state level, pushing their conservative agenda "one statehouse at a time" (Bill Moyers).   Lawmakers pay membership dues, $100 for two years, while corporations pay tens of thousands of dollars to join ALEC.    So, why would corporations pay an exorbitant amount of money to join this organization?   Simple, they want access to state legislators and they can skirt around state lobbying laws by meeting with ALEC-member legislators at ALEC-sponsored events.   How?   Well, ALEC is classified as a 501(c)(3)  "charitable organization" by the IRS, meaning it enjoys tax exempt status, and therefore agrees that its activities are not "attempting to influence legislation."   

                                                                   

"To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates." (http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Exemption-Requirements-Section-501(c)(3)-Organizations).  

However, one would have a hard time finding any conservative legislation, which hasn't been influenced by this "charitable organization".    ALEC is also exempt from Indiana's lobbying laws, as language in IC-2-7-1-10 provides that they are not lobbyists (http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title2/ar7/ch1.html).  

ALEC's own bylaws outlines that its mission is to, "[d]isseminate model legislation and promote the introduction of companion bills in Congress and state legislatures" and "[f]ormulate legislative action programs."   Today, finding an ALEC-inspired bill or law would be like standing on a beach and throwing a rock into the ocean.  It's hard to miss.   There is good reason for that.  As I pointed out in a recent conversation with Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-38), the Indiana General Assembly "carpet bombed" the legislature with ALEC-authored legislation and this tactic started in 2011.   Consider the strategy outlined in ALEC's 2010 Report Card on American Education: Ranking State K-12 Performance, Progress, and Reform:

Across the country for the past two decades, education reform efforts have popped up in legislatures at different times in different places. As a result, teachers’ unions have been playing something akin to “whack-a-mole” — you know the game — striking down as many education reform efforts as possible. Many times, the unions successfully “whack” the “mole,” i.e., the reform legislation. Sometimes, however, they miss. If all the moles pop up at once, there is no way the person with the mallet can get them all. Introduce comprehensive reform packages. (Ladner, LeFevre, & Lips, 2010, p. 108)

Free Cigars, Free Vacations, and Free Legislation


Here's where it gets interesting.   So, what actually takes place at ALEC's "charity events", known as Taskforce Meetings or Taskforce Summits?   Their main shin digs are referred to as "Taskforce Meetings" and they're typically held twice a year.    However, in February 2012, ALEC hosted a special meeting, an "Education Reform Academy" at the swanky 5-start Ritz-Carlton Resort on Amelia Island, Florida.   At these meetings, ALEC Taskforce member legislators are introduced to "model bills" that have been authored by corporations and special interest groups.   Taskforces are comprised of  legislators and corporations who, behind closed doors, discuss, revise, and adopt model legislation.   Following its adoption, a board member (such as Indiana State Sen. Jim Buck) approves the vote. 

In other words, legislators are receiving ALEC-crafted legislation then bringing it back to the state of Indiana to pass as law, affecting all Hoosiers!  That's where nearly all of the education reform legislation comes from.  Of course, our conservative state lawmakers defend the legislation by claiming it's "all about the kids."

So, what?   Like I mentioned, most of the education reform bills which have been signed into law over the past two years, as well as much of the legislation which is being considered this session, can be traced back to ALEC.

 
Virtual schools

Charter schools expansion

Parent-trigger

Prohibiting payroll deductions of union dues

Merit pay

Alternative teacher certification ( REPA II)

I-Read 3

Private school tax credit

Ending teacher tenure

Exempting charter schools from state regulations applied to public schools

Teacher "bonuses"

It's tough not to connect the dots.   An elephant has arrived in my classroom and I can't help but walk straight into it (pun intended).

Not only do conservative lawmakers receive model bills, but ALEC pays for two nights of luxury hotel accommodations for those that are Taskforce members, reimburses their travel expenses, and provides a state "scholarship" slush fund to reimburse other expenses.   Wisconsin State Representative Mark Pocan (D) attended an ALEC Taskforce meeting (New Orleans 2011) and reported on the silver platter cigar socials, complete with free food and free drinks for lawmakers, all sponsored by ALEC and paid for by member corporations. 

http://billmoyers.com/2012/11/12/wisconsin-state-rep-mark-pocan-elected-to-u-s-congress/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acz9sqXiKHo
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/29/1011718/-Inside-ALEC-WI-Rep-Mark-Pocan-Speaks-Out#
http://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/2012/12/03/politician-mark-pocan-goes-undercover-to-expose-clandestine-corporate-conspiracy/  http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7Bfb3c17e2-cdd1-4df6-92be-bd4429893665%7D/17-ALEC_invites_cigar.PDF

Additionally, with a little investigation at followthemoney.org you will find that ALEC corporations are also filling the campaign coffers of conservative lawmakers.   For example, K12 Inc., the Virginia virtual school corporation, which manages 2 of the 7 failing charter schools sponsored by Ball State University,  donated tens of thousands to Indiana ALEC legislators from 2006 to 2012 in an effort to push legislation establishing virtual schools (On the following table, click on K12 for each year to see a breakdown of that year).    

  http://www.followthemoney.org/database/search.phtml?searchbox=k12+inc&CurrentType=Contributors&so1=C&filter1[]=&filter1[]=&filter1[]=&filter1[]=in&filter1[]=&filter1[]=&filter1[]=#sorttable1

Connections Academy, a Private Sector Education Taskforce Member (meaning they vote on legislation), helped author and adopt ALEC's Virtual Public Schools Act then donated tens of thousands of dollars to Indiana ALEC member legislators.  

http://www.followthemoney.org/database/search.phtml?searchbox=connections+academy&CurrentType=Contributors&so1=C&filter1[]=&filter1[]=&filter1[]=&filter1[]=IN&filter1[]=&filter1[]=&filter1[]=#sorttable1

Both corporations, filled the campaign coffers of Tony Bennett, Brian Bosma, Robert Behning, Luke Kenley, Dennis Kruse, Mitch Daniels, David Long, among others (all ALEC Republicans).


"Model" legislation, the Virtual Public Schools Act was presented at an Education Taskforce meeting on December 4, 2004.   This act provides students and families the choice of using virtual schools to "further the education" of their children.  As mentioned, model legislation was authored by K12 Inc. and Connections Academy.   Ms. Mickey Revenaugh, a lobbyist for Connections Academy, now co-chairs the education policy–writing department of ALEC.  As the corporate chair of ALEC’s Education Task Force, Revenaugh, along with Lisa Gillis (K-12 Inc.), created the bill.

*(www.followthemoney.org is the full site if links don't work properly)


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