UPDATE ON THE MICHIGAN FAMILY BUYING INDIANA, FLORIDA, AND OKLAHOMA EDUCATION

By Doug Martin,  the author of Hoosier School Heist (find it on Facebook)

cross-posted at the Hoosier School Heist Blog

Without a doubt, Betsy DeVos and her family members are some of the biggest players behind school privatization in Indiana (and several other states, so see the end of this piece).

Betsy DeVos is the wife of Richard (Dick) DeVos, Jr., the Christian Right leader of Amway and Right-to-Work  supporter who ran for governor of Michigan in 2006 and almost won.   As I explain in my book  Hoosier School Heist, Richard, in a video a few years back, detailed the family plan for Indiana public education and school privatization across the country.

Betsy DeVos’ brother Erik Prince founded the Christian military force Blackwater, known for its massacre, threats to a U.S. investigator, and big government payouts in the War on Terror.

Along with Walmart’s Walton family, Betsy DeVos heads the American Federation for Children, a front-group operating in several states, which funneled money into the Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC which in turn handed tons of campaign donations to Indiana Republicans to pass anti-public education bills to benefit for-profit charter operators and rightwing Christian schools.

Besides giving Tony Bennet $10,000 directly, the DeVos family has handed $940,000 to the American Federation for Children.

Mike Pence has received just $20,000 in campaign donations from the DeVos family.

In 2014, the group gave the Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC (now the Hoosiers for Quality Education PAC) $175,000.

The American Federation for Children is still very actively raising money in Indiana through Citizens United lawyer James Bopp, Jr.’s Terre Haute office, with Jim Walton giving close to $40,000 this year alone.  So far, the school privatization money is flowing into Florida and Oklahoma, but it’s a sure bet it  will find its way to the Indiana statehouse doorsteps soon, too.

Indiana Republican Bill Fine is Fine with the Billionaire Crowd

by Doug Martin at Hoosier School Heist TV

(This article was first posted on Doug Martin's new blog)

When word broke recently that Indiana Republican state representative Bill Fine’s daughter--a Mitch Daniels-pick and Mike Pence-reinstated state board of ed. member--may become the new co-chair of the state board to share powers with supt. of public instruction Glenda Ritz, many were outraged.  Bill Fine had, in fact, "backed the bill to create the position of vice chairwoman" to the state board of education, and his daughter seldom agrees with Ritz.

As I expose in my book Hoosier School Heist, the whole so-called school reform movement in Indiana (and elsewhere) is a billionaire's playground to buy legislators to privatize public schools.   And crony capitalism and conflicts of interest are the rule and NOT the exception.

And Bill Fine has money from those involved in the takeover of Indiana public education.

In October 2012, Fine received $5,000 from the Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC detailed in Hoosier School Heist (see page 5 in this PDF).  For years, this PAC has been backed by Walmart, Amway, hedge fund managers, and several wealthy Indiana businesspeople, among others in and out of Indiana.

Since the PAC changed its name to Hoosiers for Quality Education recently, it has given over $400,000 to Indiana Republican candidates and committees since 2014.  One of these is the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee, Fine’s chief funder.

AN INTERESTING TIMELINE:

Out of the $275,000 the Walmart-Amway front-group American Federation for Children handed the Hoosiers for Quality Education PAC in 2014, $50,000 came on October 10 and $100,000 in September (see page 4).

On October 22, 2014, the Hoosiers for Quality Education PAC gave the Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee $25,000 and another $25,000 on October 24, 2014.

The Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee handed Fine $7,100 on October 24, 2014 and $13,500 on October 17, 2014.

Yes, it is obvious, Bill Fine is doing his best to do what the extremely wealthy want so that he can open up that campaign chest and sing.

BIO

Doug Martin is the author of Hoosier School Heist : How Corporations and Theocrats Stole Democracy From Public Education, a book being read in over 130 cities and towns and 78 Indiana counties, 23 states, and the District of Columbia.  A regular guest on national and Indiana radio talk shows such as Justin Oakley’s Just Let Me Teach and Amos Brown’s Afternoons with Amos, Dr. Martin’s research has been or will soon be featured in the Washington Post Answer Sheet , ABC’s Nightline, and the Associated Press. 

A Few “Facts” and Questions for Indiana Democrat Justin Moed

by Doug Martin

Straight off the heels of meeting private and charter school students at the statehouse rally for school privatization (sponsored by Hoosiers for Quality Education, Charter Schools USA, K-12 online learning, and many other groups detailed in my book Hoosier School Heist,) Indianapolis Democrat representative Justin Moed, who I am told is a supporter of supt. Glenda Ritz, was retweeting posts by the Hoosiers for Quality Education PAC, H4QED, yesterday.

Hoosiers for Quality Education, formerly known as the Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC, is the single most dangerous school privatizing group in Indiana.  It is the Amway/Walmart/hedge fund PAC which has funded Republicans in this state from day one to buy school privatization. 

Moed, in a response to me, the Muncie Voice and Hoosier Voices PE on Twitter, said we should “check” our “facts before we tweet,” so here are some facts that I hope Moed responds to.

So far Moed has been on the side of public education and state supt. Glenda Ritz, but his past is worth noting.  Moed, undoubtedly, is not raking in the campaign money from school privatizers that many Republicans in Indiana are, but he is getting money from those behind school privatization. 

Moed has taken money from Eli Lilly and Stand for Children, supporters of the Teach for America-Teach Plus temporary teacher and charter school agenda in Indiana.  In 2013, Eli Lilly handed Moed’s campaign $500 (page 26) and $500 more in 2014 (page 17).  Stand for Children gave Moed $750 in May of 2013 (page 18).  Stand for Children also dished out $500 for Moed’s campaign in 2012 (page 5).

In November 2013, hedge fund Democrat for Education Reform politician Mary Ann Sullivan herself gave Moed $100 (page 10).

In 2012, Andre Carson’s campaign gave Moed $500 (page 8).  Andre Carson’s campaign also handed Moed $150 in 2013 (page 23) and $250 last year (page 11).  Carson is a Wall Street Democrat (also funded by Gulen charter school people) whose wife will soon launch a charter school with money from the Mind  Trust.

And Zink Properties, a funder of Mike Pence (at least $30,000, according to state campaign finance records), Brian Bosman, and Tony Bennett, gave Moed $1,000 (page 28) in 2013 and even handed out golf prizes at some Moed event (see page 29 and page 39). Last year, Zink Properties slid another $1,000 Moed’s way (page 19).

JP Morgan Chase, the too-big to fail bank which crashed the economy in 2008 and lends millions to charter schools, slipped Moed $250 in 2014 (page 14).  The Indy Chamber gave the Democrat $500 last year, too (page 16). 

I think it best that the politicians who support public education start educating themselves a bit about the players in Hoosier School Heist.  I also think it best that supporters of public schools not forget that we must, from time to time, put pressure on Indiana Democrats, too, for there’ s a lot of money available for them to sell out.

Hoosier School Heist Carrying Indiana

by Doug Martin

Since I'm still extremely busy travelling Indiana, speaking at universities, libraries, UAW meetings, and Rise Above the Mark movie events, to name a few places, I wanted to give everyone an update on my book Hoosier School Heist.  Hoosier School Heist is now being read in almost 100 cities and towns and close to 60 counties (out of the 92) in Indiana.  It is also being studied in 14 states and the District of Columbia. 

(People need to know the information in my book because it is only going to get worse.  The main billionaire and million group responsible for buying Indiana Republicans is at it again.  The Hoosiers for Economic Growth PAC has changed its name to the Hoosiers for Quality Education, and it is very much kicking in gear its agenda.)

Here below is an update on what people are saying about Hoosier School Heist.  Email this to all of your friends because the leadership of the Democratic Party and the media are not going to do it for you:

HOOSIER SCHOOL HEIST

 

Dr. Doug Martin’s Hoosier School Heist: How Corporations and Theocrats Stole Democracy From Public Education details the assault on Indiana public schools and gives the dirt on the billionaires, theocrats, and corporations who are really calling the shots from behind the scenes.  In Hoosier School Heist, Martin follows the scandals, the corruption, and the money.  Shockingly, Martin ties school vouchers to torture, shows people breaking Open Door Laws, describes felons, plagiarists, crony banksters, Wall Street Democrats, Walmart/Amway Republicans, people who did time in prison (and many more who should have), liars, hypocrites, dictators, child abusers, and even two prostitutes. That is why Martin’s work has been or will soon be featured in the Washington Post Answer Sheet, ABC’s Nightline, and the Associated Press.  It also is being used by a private detective from Illinois and the FBI. 

 

What a few people are saying about Hoosier School Heist:

 “Hoosier School Heist is one of the scariest books that I have ever read.”  J. Szyarto

 “I started out highlighting all the important things in Doug Martin’s book.  Then I realized I was highlighting every word.  So I put the highlighter down.”  Clyde Kersey, Democratic State Representative for District 43

“Doug Martin’s work documents a horrendous corporate takeover of community schools and community values.  It shows how corporate interests often disguise themselves as foundation largesse.  It shows what’s likely coming to your community soon.”  Susan Ohanian, recipient of the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language and co-author of Why Is Corporate America Bashing Our Public Schools

 “Mr. Martin's book is alarming and damn good.” Mark Small, Civil Discourse Now radio show

"Doug explains “games billionaires play” including joining with weird religious cults to program your little ones with propaganda. … Tea Party groups, education groups, voters, and candidates are welcome to invite Mr. Martin to meetings to explain the tricks planned to steal more of your wealth.  (I believe all elections are about these tricks of stealing wealth and freedom.  It’s about time we talked about them).” Ed Gluck, former Libertarian Party candidate for the Indiana statehouse

 “Author Doug Martin keeps the truth coming about education reform in Indiana being bought and sold behind Indiana citizens' backs and through campaign fund accounts.” Parent Power Indianapolis 

“Ok... this is a GREAT book filled with research that exposes the TRUE intentions of Education Privatizers!!  Doug Martin!! Gold nuggets of research and exposing truth!!”” Republicans for Glenda Ritz

 “Martin is Indiana’s loudest and most knowledgeable critic of for-profit charter schools and school vouchers.”  Steve Kash, Tribune Star

Doug Martin was instrumental in breaking stories in Florida that helped us defeat legislation!" Testing is not Teaching! - PBC citizens united to make a difference!

“I can say Dr. Martin has spent a very long time researching this absolutely horrendous information about what is happening to Indiana public schools … and how much money many people are making from this theft and it goes practically unnoticed because of the power of the politicians who back this.” Ron Mott, legendary radio show host for WAXI 104.9 True Oldies and columnist for Tribune Star

"Reading Doug Martin's Hoosier School Heist is like being in the middle of education espionage. It is an eye-opener! If you haven't read it yet, do! And it is not just for those who live in Indiana--that is for sure!" Nancy Bailey, author of Misguided Education Reform: Debating the Impact on Students

“Doug Martin has a picture perfect cautionary tale that mimics another Titanic!  It felt like I had just read a murder cover-up and was following the blood trail of corporate $$$$.  A must-read for all involved in education in Indiana and across the globe.”  Justin Oakley, AFT Indiana and host of Just Let Me Teach radio show

“It will take decades of thoughtful politicians, skilled educators and caring communities to reverse the trend that is so well documented in Doug Martin’s book. But it’s worth beginning, and for us in Indiana, reading Hoosier School Heist is one place to begin.”  Dr. Jerry Hawkins, former mayor of Clinton, Indiana, and former supt. of South Vermillion School Corp.

“Doug Martin is the Eugene V. Debs of public education.” Patrick Hill, IU-Kokomo labor studies professor and co-host of The Workers Voice radio show

 “Educate yourself [by reading Hoosier School Heist] on all aspects of ed reform.....from the very beginning until now.” Parents & Educators against the Daniels& Bennett Educational Reform

“Thankfully, there are those like Doug Martin speaking truth to the matter.” Indiana Coalition for Public Education

 “Doug Martin has had enough.”  Dan Bimrose, Liberal Fix radio

 “Warning! Hoosier School Heist will shock and make you angry. In an unbiased fashion, Doug Martin uncovers how the public education takeover crisis in Indiana was manufactured to benefit special interests and the politicians who serve them. This book will make you sick from what they have done and what they are doing to you and your children.” Daymon Brodhacker, former school principal

 Maybe it’s the legacy of Eugene V. Debs or the memory of coal-field union wars, but Western Indiana progressives say what they think. Martin’s give-‘em-hell approach reminds me of United Mine Workers members I met while writing about coal strikes 30 years ago. Steve Hinnefeld, School Matters

"Doug Martin offers readers facts rather than just more opinions from one particular "side of the aisle," he follows the money, and he names names: from the Indy Pharm giant Eli Lilly, to politicians like Mitch “Daniels and Tony Bennett, to the out in the open oligarchs at the Walton and Gates Foundations, and finally he names the lower level soldiers these groups plant on school boards and grant funding organizations and who write op-eds in local newspapers under the banner of independent ‘Policy Reviews.’ That is, Martin relentlessly exposes every evil practice and every evil act whether performed by politician or business person." Douglas Storm, WFHB Interchange radio show, Bloomington

“Doug Martin has written an excellent book called Hoosier School Heist which is available to purchase and read. You won't find reviews about it in most Hoosier newspapers, and you need to ask, "Why Not?" Why are our ‘newspapers’ refusing to educate Hoosiers about the truth?” Teachers need to step forward and educate the public because our newspapers refuse to do it. They either don't grasp it, or turn a blind eye to it. Either way, they are failing the general public. You can't be an informed voter if you don't understand the issues.

Doug Martin has written an excellent book called Hoosier School Heist which is available to purchase and read. You won't find reviews about it in most Hoosier newspapers, and you need to ask, "Why Not?".

Why are our "newspapers" refusing to educate Hoosiers about the truth? How can we choose the right candidate if we don't know the truth?Teachers need to step forward and educate the public because our newspapers refuse to do it. They either don't grasp it, or turn a blind eye to it. Either way, they are failing the general public. You can't be an informed voter if you don't understand the issues.

Doug Martin has written an excellent book called Hoosier School Heist which is available to purchase and read. You won't find reviews about it in most Hoosier newspapers, and you need to ask, "Why Not?".

Why are our "newspapers" refusing to educate Hoosiers about the truth? How can we choose the right candidate if we don't know the truth?Teachers need to step forward and educate the public because our newspapers refuse to do it. They either don't grasp it, or turn a blind eye to it. Either way, they are failing the general public. You can't be an informed voter if you don't understand the issues.

Doug Martin has written an excellent book called Hoosier School Heist which is available to purchase and read. You won't find reviews about it in most Hoosier newspapers, and you need to ask, "Why Not?".

Why are our "newspapers" refusing to educate Hoosiers about the truth? How can we choose the right candidate if we don't know the truth?Teachers need to step forward and educate the public because our newspapers refuse to do it. They either don't grasp it, or turn a blind eye to it. Either way, they are failing the general public. You can't be an informed voter if you don't understand the issues.

Doug Martin has written an excellent book called Hoosier School Heist which is available to purchase and read. You won't find reviews about it in most Hoosier newspapers, and you need to ask, "Why Not?".

Why are our "newspapers" refusing to educate Hoosiers about the truth? How can we choose the right candidate if we don't know the truth? Todd Smekens, Muncie Voice

“A good read that gets right down in the weeds of school privatization and the profit-taking motivation behind today's education reform. To many, maybe most, a revelation.” Amazon Customer Review

“Five stars for Dr. Doug Martin's journey towards truth. Outstanding and brilliant!!!! A must-read for educators at all levels and especially for those parents who care who, and what, is driving their students’ education.” Book Lover Grandma

“In this investigation of the education reform juggernaut in Indiana, Doug Martin shows how politicians and the billionaire education experts are complicit in putting profit over the common good.  Hoosier School Heist should serve as a wake-up call for those of us who care about public education.”  Phyllis Bush, retired English teacher, founder of Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education, and officer at The Network for Public Education, a national public education advocacy group

“This book should enliven the Indiana political and education conversation!” I'm IN ‏@TurnIndianaBlue (United Blue) 

 

Doug Martin 

HOOSIER SCHOOL HEIST: http://hoosierschoolheist.com/

Hoosier School Heist facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HoosierSchoolHeist

Doug Martin on Twitter: @DougMartinED