(Any comments on THIS editorial in my paper)
http://www.thedailylight.com/articles/2011/01/22/opinion/doc4d3bbd9c2dab0657572596.txtAUSTIN, 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.