Outrages of the Week: Dumpster Diving, School Privatizers Stand Up for Public Teachers, and Damn Fast Signature Gathering

1. School Privatization Groups Laughably Claim to Speak for Teachers
   A network of state-based think tanks and non-profits virtually all funded by the same small group of donors and all committed to the privatization of education are now claiming to be helping teachers by filing amicus curiae briefs in a Washington court fight over whether political spending by unions requires permission from each individual member. Unsurprisingly, these rightwing groups seem unconcerned with whether all shareholders sign off on the use of corporate assets for political purposes. [American Legislative Exchange Council, 08/17/2006]
2. US: Major Airline Suggests Low-Income Employees Dumpster Dive
   The Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines has apparently had enough of flying -- they're now trying to reach new lows. Reuters reports that the company, which just one year ago spent $100 million on union-busting activities, released a pamphlet to employees saying if money is a problem, they shouldn't be "shy about pulling something you like out of the trash." The pamphlet was pulled and a spokesperson admitted it was "a bit insensitive." [Reuters, 08/15/2006; DavidSirota.com, 08/20/2005]
3. MT: A Signature a Minute for 7 Days Straight
   A coalition of Montana organizations have brought suit against an astro-turf organization and the state of Montana regarding signatures for three initiatives advanced by an astroturf rightwing organization. The lawsuit highlights many complaints raised in Montana and other states -- that signature-gatherers seeking to qualify the measures for the ballot were lying to and misleading voters. But a new allegation is included: according to affidavits submitted with the signed petitions, a single individual gathered 8,204 signatures in four counties in a single week -- a rate of almost one signature per minute twenty-four hours a day for the entire week. The counties in question are nearly 400 miles apart. [Great Falls Tribune, 08/18/2006]
4. TX: That's Just How Good Ol' Boys Do Bidness
   It appears that Texas' good ol' boy community thinks that corruption is a fine method of operating. Bill Ceverha, a lobbyist, consultant, and member of the board of the Employees Retirement System of Texas, lobbied for an education privatization front group in 2005. One of his big donors was a man by the name of James Leininger. Leininger is also the founder of Kinetic Concepts. The investment board bought 80,000 shares of Kinetic, which recently suffered a legal defeat, with its stock losing 40% of its value. When questioned about this, Ceverha denounced the legislator who had the temerity to ask as shameless and unable to pass legislation. Leininger upped the ante by calling the state representative a "small man." Apparently this is a play from the "best defense is a good offense" book. [AP, 08/10/2006]
5. TX: The Corruption Just Keeps Coming
   They do everything, apparently including corruption, bigger in Texas. Dan Shelley worked for Cintra before joining Governor Rick Perry's office. Cintra later won a $7 billion contract to build a superhighway -- the Trans-Texas Corridor. Shelley has now left the Governor's office and, with his daughter, won large contracts to lobby for Cintra once again. [Dallas Morning News, 08/18/2006]