State Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar and ALEC Missouri chairman, lauded Hubbard in the statement as “a true 'profile in courage'. As a Democrat representing an urban district in the City of St. Louis he has remained sensitive to the needs of his constituents in standing against special interests to do what is right for his community and the state."
Hubbard, who supports school choice, is among the few Democrats who have prospered in the Republican-controlled state House.
Let me see if I understand Emery's definition of special interest. Apparently, Rex Sinquefield, who contributed $30,000 to Hubbard before campaign contribution limits were reinstated does not qualify as a special interest. Apparently, you are not catering to special interests when you accept $3,646.24 in lobbyists' gifts during the first six months of 2007, among the tops in the state.
Missouri Ethics Commission records indicate Hubbard has received $1,515.73 in lobbyists' gifts since the legislative session ended, more than most of his colleagues have received all year.
On May 19, Hubbard received $1,0008 worth of "tickets" from Jay Reichard, the lobbyist who shares most of his clients with Andrew Blunt. The client, according to Reichard's statement,was the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association. On June 8, Hubbard received an "event ticket" worth $190 from Sam Barbee, also representing the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association.
Though the nature of those tickets is not spelled out on the Ethics Commission documents, Hubbard did receive tickets to St. Louis Cardinal games from three lobbyists. On May 25, Mel Nicholson, lobbyist for SSM Health Care bought Cardinal tickets for $38 and a $40 meal for Hubbard. The St. Louis Democrat also received Cardinal tickets worth $88.42 from Tina Shannon, representing Ameren UE on June 19.
In April, it was lobbyist Travis Brown, claiming to represent his own interest, Missourians for a Better Economy, who paid $328 for tickets and $300 for food for Hubbard.
In fact, Brown who recently joined with his wife, Rachel Keller Brown, and former House Speaker Pro Tem Carl Bearden to form a new lobbying firm Pelopidas LLC to promote educational vouchers, has bought $655.50 worth of gifts for Hubbard. As of July 12, Brown is also the registered lobbyist for Rex Sinquefield.
A look at 2006 Ethics Commission documents shows none of this is anything new for Rep. Hubbard. During that year, he received $3,190.30 in lobbyists' gifts, including $1,936.84 for entertainment. In October, Brown paid $500 for entertainment, charged to Monsanto, and $320 charged to Gaines Brown Consulting.
On four occasions, totaling $630, Sam Barbee representing the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, paid for Hubbard's entertainment.
On June 7, 2006, lobbyist Richard McIntosh, representing Edison Schools, bought a $352.19 meal for Hubbard.
So please, don't tell me how "sensitive" Hubbard is to the needs and issues of his constituents. They certainly did not send him to Jefferson City to cater to the needs of lobbyists and special interests, but that is exactly what he has done.
3 comments:
There is a common thread in your ad hominen attacks, you hate kids and love the education bureacracy.
Your last two posts are nothing more than attacks on people who believe that public schools are one alternative to educating kids but should not be the only ones. Because someone supports and promotes alternatives for people to be incentivized to use THEIR OWN MONEY to support these alternatives without taking any from public schools you deem them to be worthy of attack.
The people of Jolpin should be proud that you as a teacher can at least read and show some ability to use the internet. They should be very disappointed that your comprehension and critical thinking skills are lacking. How can you teach kids without being able to comprehend and apply crictical thinking skills? In your case, not very well I'm sure.
But I know you arent worried. The school education bureacracy is designed to protect inept teachers such as yourself while stellar teachers get the shaft.
You're attacking Randy's logic and critical thinking skills?
Randy's logic is fine. Yours, on the other hand, is both suspect and questionable.
Speaking as a grandparent who has something to lose (my grandchild's future) in the latest big money grab by the republican party, I can tell you quite honestly I will fight any and every attempt to transfer tax money to private schools as long as I'm alive.
Content yourself with the fact that the rest of my tax money is being wasted in a war of foolishness in Iraq and stop trying to be so greedy.
I am most certainly not attacking Turner's logic and critical thinking skills. You can't attack something he doesn't have.
He simply takes items, particularly against those who don't agree with his views of the world, and then attempts to relate them without any proof just innuendo. Ex: What did the auto guys get in exchange for all the stuff Turner says they bought? Hubbard did support parental choice bills but so do 83% of all Missourians.
Your comment is typical of those without facts. No one propsed transfer of ANY tax money to private schools. The proposal was to let people give THEIR money. Typical I've got mine to hell with everyone else attitude. Typical your money is the government's money attitude.
One thing Turner is fond of saying is elected officials who disagree with his view points are not serving their constituency. HE then sets about distorting or concealing facts about those officials like Hubbard. Turner is certainly serving his constituency, education bureacrats and their subjugates. Too bad they don't give a damn about the kids they are supposed to educate except as tools to get what they want.
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