Florida’s now-infamous Stand Your Ground law, which lets you shoot someone you consider threatening without facing arrest, let alone prosecution, sounds crazy — and it is. And it’s tempting to dismiss this law as the work of ignorant yahoos. But similar laws have been pushed across the nation, not by ignorant yahoos but by big corporations. Specifically, language virtually identical to Florida’s law is featured in a template supplied to legislators in other states by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate-backed organization that has managed to keep a low profile even as it exerts vast influence (only recently, thanks to yeoman work by the Center for Media and Democracy, has a clear picture of ALEC’s activities emerged). And if there is any silver lining to Trayvon Martin’s killing, it is that it might finally place a spotlight on what ALEC is doing to our society — and our democracy.
What is ALEC? Despite claims that it’s nonpartisan, it’s very much a movement-conservative organization, funded by the usual suspects: the Kochs, Exxon Mobil, and so on. Unlike other such groups, however, it doesn’t just influence laws, it literally writes them, supplying fully drafted bills to state legislators. In Virginia, for example, more than 50 ALEC-written bills have been introduced, many almost word for word. And these bills often become law.
Many ALEC-drafted bills pursue standard conservative goals: union-busting, undermining environmental protection, tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy. ALEC seems, however, to have a special interest in privatization — that is, on turning the provision of public services, from schools to prisons, over to for-profit corporations. And some of the most prominent beneficiaries of privatization, such as the online education company K12 Inc. and the prison operator Corrections Corporation of America, are, not surprisingly, very much involved with the organization.
What this tells us, in turn, is that ALEC’s claim to stand for limited government and free markets is deeply misleading. To a large extent the organization seeks not limited government but privatized government, in which corporations get their profits from taxpayer dollars, dollars steered their way by friendly politicians. In short, ALEC isn’t so much about promoting free markets as it is about expanding crony capitalism.
And in case you were wondering, no, the kind of privatization ALEC promotes isn’t in the public interest; instead of success stories, what we’re getting is a series of scandals. Private charter schools, for example, appear to deliver a lot of profits but little in the way of educational achievement.
But where does the encouragement of vigilante (in)justice fit into this picture? In part it’s the same old story — the long-standing exploitation of public fears, especially those associated with racial tension, to promote a pro-corporate, pro-wealthy agenda. It’s neither an accident nor a surprise that the National Rifle Association and ALEC have been close allies all along.
And ALEC, even more than other movement-conservative organizations, is clearly playing a long game. Its legislative templates aren’t just about generating immediate benefits to the organization’s corporate sponsors; they’re about creating a political climate that will favor even more corporation-friendly legislation in the future.
Did I mention that ALEC has played a key role in promoting bills that make it hard for the poor and ethnic minorities to vote?
Yet that’s not all; you have to think about the interests of the penal-industrial complex — prison operators, bail-bond companies and more. (The American Bail Coalition has publicly described ALEC as its “life preserver.”) This complex has a financial stake in anything that sends more people into the courts and the prisons, whether it’s exaggerated fear of racial minorities or Arizona’s draconian immigration law, a law that followed an ALEC template almost verbatim.
Think about that: we seem to be turning into a country where crony capitalism doesn’t just waste taxpayer money but warps criminal justice, in which growing incarceration reflects not the need to protect law-abiding citizens but the profits corporations can reap from a larger prison population.
Now, ALEC isn’t single-handedly responsible for the corporatization of our political life; its influence is as much a symptom as a cause. But shining a light on ALEC and its supporters — a roster that includes many companies, from AT&T and Coca-Cola to UPS, that have so far managed to avoid being publicly associated with the hard-right agenda — is one good way to highlight what’s going on. And that kind of knowledge is what we need to start taking our country back.
Monty Pearce’s land lease shows that contrary to his statement on the floor of the Senate that he had land leases going back 30 years, this lease was just signed in November of 2011 and filed with the county in December of 2011. That is an awfully short period of time to forget something that has the potential to be a lucrative investment.
We are thankful that a Senate ethics committee has been called and hopeful that they act quickly. Previous efforts at self-regulation have proven ineffective and it is highly suspect that Pearce will receive anything but a slap on the hand.
There is nothing political about insisting that our Statesman act like statesman and follow the rules. It is past time that they hold themselves to a high ethical standard. If we had meaningful ethics reform and an independent ethics commission we would be able to ensure that our public servants weren’t self servants first and letting the people of Idaho come second.
Thanks, Sally.
Travis
# FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #
Yesterday’s comments from Superintendent Tom Luna about JFAC’s funding boost to schools and teachers is a bit of a flip flop.
With the referendum on the 3 Luna laws looming this fall, Mr. Luna is playing politics with Idaho teachers. He is backing off his stance to drastically reduce teacher salaries in order to fund laptops for every high school student and his pay-for-performance formula because he knows it is politically unpalatable.
Meanwhile, the legislature – with Luna doing nothing to publicly oppose it – provides 36 million dollars of tax relief to corporations and the wealthiest Idahoans. While virtually every state office is underfunded, social services suffer from lack of funds, and schools are in desperate need – is this called leadership?
Across the state school districts are forced to pass supplemental levies and increase property taxes just to maintain the status quo. Teachers spend from their own meager incomes to purchase learning resources which the district can’t afford, veteran teachers retire early or leave for adjoining states where quality in education is prized and responsible leadership exists, class sizes escalate, teacher workloads increase, and electives like art and music are dropped from school curriculums.
Idaho continues among the worst in graduation rates, post-secondary enrollments, and funding. Thanks to the ill-conceived Luna laws and remarkably inept leadership at the state level, Idaho’s public schools continue to deteriorate. Come November, will we, the people, rid ourselves of the Luna laws, and elect a legislature which cares about people rather than party and power?
CONTACT: Travis Manning, Executive Director, Common Sense Democracy Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Steve Berch files to run for House Seat 15B
Boise, Idaho – March 5, 2012. Local businessman Steve Berch has filed to run as the Idaho Democratic Party candidate for House Seat 15B. This rare open seat offers voters an opportunity to bring a fresh perspective and balance to a state legislature that struggles to solve even the most basic problems facing its citizens. Voters in West Boise feel left behind and let down by the people they trusted as the legislature becomes increasingly out of touch, more extreme, and hostile to differing points of view.
Steve Berch is very familiar with District 15. He has lived in the district for over 31 years. As vice- president of the West Valley Neighborhood Association, he led the effort to prevent state and local government from effectively rerouting Highway 55 down Five Mile Road – which runs through the center of the district. His efforts protected the property values of thousands of homeowners and preserved the pleasant residential nature of its communities.
Many voters in District 15 may have met Steve Berch at their door when he ran for the legislature two years ago in what was then part of District 14. Almost 50% of the new District 15 comes from the old District 14.
Former and current Hewlett Packard employees in West Boise may know Steve Berch from his nearly 30 year career at the company. Others may know him as president of his homeowners association, where he has worked with his fellow neighbors to preserve property values during these challenging economic times.
Said Berch, “I look forward to meeting with the citizens of District 15 – Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike – to discuss the issues important to all, including restoring the prosperity that has been lost in West Boise and making wise investments in education for our children and their future. ”
About Steve Berch:
Steve Berch is running for House Seat 15B. He has lived in District 15 for over 31 years, starting when he moved to Idaho in 1981 to work for the Hewlett Packard Company. He was the strategic business planner for three HP divisions, managed a $75 million dollar business and launched new marketing initiatives. He owns a consulting company that advises local small businesses on becoming more competitive and efficient, along with working as a contract employee for larger companies. He and his wife Leslie have been married for 29 years and have a daughter, Katie, who attends Centennial High School.
Contact Info:
Steve Berch (Candidate): 890-9339 Email: berch4idaho@msn.com
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Here are some of the questions that we have received on the new election laws in our State.
Do I have to re-register to vote? No, you are still registered you simply need to print, fill out, and send to your county clerk a party affiliation form [http://www.idahovotes.gov/VoterReg/affiliation_form.pdf].
Will my party affiliation and my ballot choice be public record? Yes, we will know what party a voter has registered with and what ballot they vote on in the primary – both will be public record.
Could someone partcipate in both a Republican and Democratic caucus? In theory, yes. – A registered republican can participate in both caucuses. This has always been possible. We will not be checking party affiliation at the door. We will be asking them to sign a pledge and let them know that we may or may not publish their names in the paper as a participant. The likelihood of R’s participating in ours is slim and if they do I don’t think they would change any outcomes. The caucuses are party run events I personally think the R’s are hurting themselves as far as limiting participation to only “registered” Republicans.
What will 200K requested from the Secretary of State’s office be spent on? The money will be spent in a non-partisan way on voter education – “What does party affiliation mean to you?” – we will not have a say however know Ben Ysursa he will make sure it is non-partisan.
Why would I want to register as a Democrat if I only have Republican’s running in my county? It is a dis-service to everyone if we fail to highlight the consequences of their actions by crossing over to create change in their party. We must declare ourselves as Democrats and work for change in our own party by finding candidates that will take on the extremists that come out of their closed primary elections.
Can Republicans vote in the Democratic primary? Yes, the Idaho Democratic State Central Committee voted to keep our primary open which means that anyone can choose a Democratic ballot. Democrats, Republicans, Constitutionalists, Libertarians and unaffiliated are all welcome.
What happens if I don’t affiliate before primary elections day? If a voter has not signed the Party Affiliation Declaration Form before election day, they will be asked by the Poll book Clerk with which party they want to affiliate, and that will be circled in the poll book. Then, they will sign the poll book as usual. No form! They will then be asked on which party’s ballot they want to vote. Only if they have affiliated with the Republican Party, can they take a Republican ballot. However, anyone can ask for a Democratic ballot.
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If you have any other questions please contact
PRESS RELEASE
Cherie Buckner-Webb
Candidate
For Idaho State Senate, District 19
Boise – Cherie Buckner-Webb, Democrat, an Idaho State Representative from District 19, has announced that she will run for the Idaho Senate seat being vacated by State Senator Nicole LeFavour, also a Democrat, who has decided not to run for a fifth term in the Legislature. Senator LaFavour has endorsed Buckner-Webb’s candidacy, “I leave the Senate excited to know that Representative Cherie Buckner-Webb will seek election to my seat this year. Cherie brings a huge depth of knowledge, passion and power to the Senate and I know my colleagues and our district knows her to be an amazingly effective advocate for the issues I have cared about all these years”.
“Following discussions with Democratic leaders within and others outside the Legislature, I will file for the Senate seat in District 19 and look forward to working collaboratively to effectively serve my constituents. I do so acknowledging the greats who have preceded me: Senators Gail Bray, Sue Reents, Betsy Dunklin, Mike Burkett and Nicole LeFavour”, Buckner-Webb said. An experienced business professional and community activist, she will continue to use her voice in the Legislature to advocate for fairness for all citizens, a business environment that contributes to a strong economy, and for conservation and environmental policies that benefit all.
Currently, Ms. Buckner-Webb serves on the State Affairs and Local Government Committees in the House of Representatives.
She is a fifth generation Idahoan, a small business owner and founder of Sojourner Coaching. She is an active community volunteer, with a long history of serving as a board member with a numerous organizations.
Buckner-Webb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Fox University and a Master of Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University. She is married to the Reverend Henry Webb, and is has two sons and one granddaughter.
Contact:
Mike Silva
208.573.0623
msilva@creative-arts.com
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Contact: Betty Richardson 938-7903
February 24, 2012
BETTY RICHARDSON PLANS RUN FOR STATE SENATE Cecil Andrus and Dave Bieter Will Co-Chair Her Campaign
Former U.S. Attorney and longtime West Boise resident Betty Richardson today filed papers in preparation to run for the open Senate seat in the newly-configured District 15.
Richardson, a Democrat, said that she is honored to have former Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus and Boise Mayor Dave Bieter co-chair her campaign.
“I’ve known Betty since she was in junior high school, and I can’t imagine a better prepared or more civic minded senator for District 15,” Andrus said. “Betty has a most impressive history of public service: her leadership experience as Idaho’s United States Attorney, as Chairman of the Idaho Industrial Commission and as a volunteer in our community will allow her to hit the ground running in the Idaho Legislature.”
“Betty has always held herself to the highest ethical standards,” Bieter said. “As a longtime resident, Betty knows her District, she knows the issues, and she has a breadth of experience that will make her a knowledgeable and effective representative.”
Richardson and her husband Peter have lived in their West Boise neighborhood for 17 years. Their two children, now young adults, attended Idaho public schools.
“District 15 has been well-served in the state senate by John Andreason, a man of intelligence and integrity,” Richardson said. “With the new lines established by reapportionment, John is no longer in District 15. He has been a strong and independent voice for his constituents, and I hope to follow in his footsteps.”
Richardson said that her campaign will have three priorities: an economy that works for everyone, a public school system that is properly funded and turns out young people prepared to succeed in the world, and a state government that is open, transparent, and free of the undue influence of special interests.
“Those will be my touchstones,” Richardson said. “I come into this race fully committed to working with Democrats, Republicans and Independents to move Idaho forward.”
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Coeur d’Alene Tribe Contributes $16,000 to Boise Area Schools
The Boise Public Schools Education Fund (BPSEF) is pleased to announce the receipt of a generous donation from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for Boise area schools. Capital High School will receive $5000 to be used to fund scholarships for advanced placement exams. Additionally, another donation of $11,000 will be made available to more than 100 elementary school teachers in District 19 for use in purchasing classroom supplies and other much needed educational materials for their students.
“This donation is truly a gift. We are very grateful for this contribution that provides funding for elementary teachers to purchase supplies and provides scholarships for those students who have rigorously taken AP classes but can’t afford the exam fees,” said Dr. Don Coberly, Boise School District Superintendent.
Representative Cherie Buckner-Webb, D-19 and Representative Grant Burgoyne, D-16 were instrumental in communicating to Tribal leaders the need for funding these programs in their respective districts. Both Buckner-Webb and Burgoyne helped to provide background on the programs and facilitate discussions with the Tribe to fund the requests.
In response to the gifts, Representative Burgoyne thanked the Tribe for its generous donation and said, “Advanced placement courses are a substantial benefit to high school students who can receive college credit without college costs. But these AP courses require students to pay exam fees in order to receive college credit. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s donation to Capital High School’s advanced placement scholarship program could not have come at a better time because the recession has made it more difficult for many families to pay these fees.”
Representative Buckner-Webb expressed her appreciation to the Tribe by adding, “This contribution exemplifies the Tribe’s ongoing demonstration of support for teachers, students and education across the state.”
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe will make the donation directly to the Boise Public Schools Education Fund (BPSEF) and Executive Director Jennifer Henderson will distribute the funds. “This is a significant gift that will touch the lives of thousands of Boise School District students and educators,” said Henderson. The Boise Public Schools Education Foundation (BPSEF) exists to help teachers implement creative ideas that expand their students’ learning experiences and is a critical District partner providing extra resources that can often be the tipping point in the success of a school or a student’s life.
Printed on: December 04, 2011 in Post Register News
Idaho’s culture of corruption
Corey Taule
In 1986, former Idaho Congressman George Hansen entered a federal prison after making false statements on campaign financial disclosure forms. Seeing a high-elected official do the perpetrator walk shocked his former constituents.
Twenty-five years later, it is clear Idahoans should prepare for a repeat. The culture of corruption within which Idaho’s politicians operate seems inevitably to be leading to another high-profile fall from grace.
Idaho has endured a litany of mini-scandals recently, incidents that attract our attention for a few days but fall short of leading to the reforms Idaho’s system desperately needs.
What are we talking about? Buckle in for a long ride:
- A lawsuit is pending over the firing of Idaho Transportation Department Director Pam Lowe, who lost her job as she was attempting to reduce multimillion contracts for politically connected companies. Lowe is also alleging sexism, something that was borne out when we learned her male predecessor was treated far better on his way out the door.
- The Jan. 7 resignation of State Tax Commission Chairman Royce Chigbrow came after nine former and current agency employees accused commissioners of cutting sweetheart deals for the rich and politically connected. Chigbrow, who once served as Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s campaign treasurer, escaped prosecution because the statute of limitations had expired.
- The Corrections Corporation of America settled two lawsuits concerning abuse of inmates at the Idaho prison it manages. And yet, no elected officials are talking about ending the state’s $30 million annual commitment to CCA. Maybe that’s because CCA has spread thousands in campaign contributions around to key lawmakers, including Otter. Or perhaps it has something to do with the recruitment and hiring of Otter’s former chief of staff, Jason Kreizenbeck, by CCA’s Boise lobbyist, Skip Smyser, whose wife, Melinda, serves in the state Senate.
- Athol Republican Phil Hart purposely failed to pay income taxes for years and built a home from timber he lifted off state endowment lands. When a fellow Republican legislator, Eric Anderson of Priest Lake, called for an ethics probe, a couple of things happened: Anderson lost his job as vice chairman of the House State Affairs Committee; and the House, urged on by Speaker Lawerence Denney, changed its ethics rules. Now, ethics complaints are vetted behind closed doors by a panel hand-picked by Denney.
- Those new rules came in handy because following the 2011 legislative session, we learned that Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, with Denney’s help, killed a bill, helping to clear the way for his still-pending lawsuit against Bonneville County. Denney took one day to declare that nothing was amiss.
- Idaho GOP Chairman Norm Semanko received a $160,000 taxpayer-supported loan from the Idaho Water Users Association, something that would be illegal in most states; two Republican state senators collected extra per diem while voting to cut school and mental health budgets; and Treasurer Ron Crane shepherded, at taxpayer expense, a select group of legislators, friends and family around Manhattan in stretch limos.
And who could forget Sen. John McGee’s protracted silence over his DUI and disappearing grand theft charges?
This is what happens when one faction rules absolutely and everyone else stops paying attention. There are, of course, steps we could take to clean up our public processes: Force legislators and their spouses to disclose personal financial information; pass revolving-door legislation to keep folks like Kreizenbeck from leaping into the arms of folks like Smyser; advance the top two vote-getters in the primary to the general election, regardless of party, something that might weed out extremists such as the House nullification advocates; embrace voting through the mail; get rid of the PERSI perk, which allows lawmakers to inflate their taxpayer-funded retirements; and strip part-time lawmakers of their health care benefits.
Let’s get real, though. None of this is going to happen. Idaho will continue to sail along in a sea of small scandals until, finally, the tsunami hits. Then, naturally, we’ll hurl invectives at whichever public official takes the George Hansen perp walk.
But that anger will be misplaced. When the day arrives, all of us should stand in front of a mirror as we point the finger.
Idaho’s culture of corruption results directly from one thing: Idahoans’ indifference about the things being done in our name.
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