Subject: [big campaign] IA RELEASE: Out-of-State Special Interest Group Students First Hires New Director to "Increase Presence" in Iowa
From: Aniello Alioto <[email-masked]>
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Date: Mon, 20 May 2013 17:34:28 -0400
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

Just out to IA press... it's time to throw down the gauntlet in America's
heartland.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Matt Sinovic" <[email-masked]>
Date: May 20, 2013 5:25 PM
Subject: RELEASE: Out-of-State Special Interest Group Students First Hires
New Director to "Increase Presence" in Iowa
To: "Matt Sinovic" <[email-masked]>
Cc:

*

www.ProgressIowa.org <http://www.progressiowa.org>
                    Contact:
Matt Sinovic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  (515) 423-0530

MAY 20TH, 2013

Out-of-State Special Interest Group Students First Hires New Director to
“Increase Presence” in Iowa

Students First has track record of supporting ALEC-Backed Education
Proposals, Providing Financial Backing for Conservative Candidates,
Involvement in Cheating and Anti-Gay Controversies

DES MOINES – Late last week, Students First announced hiring Patty Link, a
former Des Moines School Board Member, as State Director, signaling an
attempt to increase their presence in Iowa. In the past, Students First has
promoted anti-union policies such as targeting collective bargaining laws,
expanding charter schools and school vouchers, and working with anti-labor
allies like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the conservative
front-group, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Last fall,
further cementing their conservative credentials, Student’s First provided
over $350,000 in campaign contributions to defeat pro-public education
legislative candidates in Iowa.
 Nationally, Michelle Rhee, the Founder and CEO of Students First, has been
embroiled in scandal, having been accused of failing to act to prevent
“widespread cheating” while Chancellor of Washington, DC public schools.

More recently, Rhee and Students First honored Tennessee State
Representative John Ragan as “Reformer of the Year” despite Ragan’s
attempts to exempt “religious or political bullying” from a measure to
prevent anti-gay harassment in schools. Ragan also co-sponsored legislation
that would have forced teachers and school therapists to “out” students
suspected of being gay to their parents.

“It is not surprising that Students First wants to attempt to expand their
reach in Iowa after investing a considerable amount of money in last year’s
elections. What is surprising is that former Des Moines School Board member
and co-owner of Link Strategies Patty Link is involved," said Matt Sinovic,
executive director of Progress Iowa. "Iowa’s educators, labor unions, and
anyone paying attention to right-wing organizations and their undue
influence in politics understand what Students First is all about. Michelle
Rhee’s controversial background and caustic influence on public education
have no place in Iowa. Link would serve our state better if she denounced
the Students First agenda and instead focused on promoting policies that
truly further the best interest of Iowa students, rather than an
out-of-state special interest group."
 ###

Background:

Leaked documents show Michelle Rhee coordinating with Connecticut astroturf
group to push ALEC’s “Parent Trigger”

http://boldprogressives.org/leaked-documents-show-michelle-rhee-coordinating-with-astroturf-group-to-push-alecs-parent-trigger/

<http://boldprogressives.org/leaked-documents-show-michelle-rhee-coordinating-with-astroturf-group-to-push-alecs-parent-trigger/>

Michelle Rhee’s group stands by anti-gay honoree

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/30/michelle_rhees_group_stands_by_anti_gay_honoree/

<http://www.salon.com/2013/04/30/michelle_rhees_group_stands_by_anti_gay_honoree/>

Did Michelle Rhee ignore her own cheating scandal? A new memo suggests
clear evidence was discounted

http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2013/04/12/did-michelle-rhee-ignore-her-own-cheating-scandal-a-new-memo-suggests-clear-evidence-was-discounted/

<http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2013/04/12/did-michelle-rhee-ignore-her-own-cheating-scandal-a-new-memo-suggests-clear-evidence-was-discounted/>

Former DM School Board Member Patty Link to lead Students First group in
Iowa

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/05/15/former-dm-school-board-member-patty-link-to-lead-students-first-group-in-iowa/article

<http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/05/15/former-dm-school-board-member-patty-link-to-lead-students-first-group-in-iowa/article>

Students First gives Iowa ‘F’ for education policy

“Last year, Rhee visited with Gov. Terry Branstad and select lawmakers on
education reform topics. The organization also spent more than $300,000 on
state legislative races this year, more than any other independent
expenditure group in the last cycle.”

http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/students-first-gives-iowa-f-for-education-policy/article_625bf13a-5884-11e2-b560-001a4bcf887a.html

Patty Link Des Moines School Board Biography

http://old.dmps.k12.ia.us/schoolboard/1link.htm

$355,541.95 in Independent Expenditures by Students First in 2012

Jane Jech for Iowa Senate: $85,450.31 total expenditures

$2,323 on 10/22/2012:
https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.34.16.pdf

<https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.34.16.pdf>

$28,000 on 10/22/2012:
https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.38.26.pdf

<https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.38.26.pdf>

$51,793.98 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.42.57.pdf

$3,333.33 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_23.12.4.pdf

Friends for Breitbach: $78,922 total expenditures

$51,032.52 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.47.39.pdf

<https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.47.39.pdf>

$2,556.15 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.51.37.pdf

$22,000 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_22.56.16.pdf

$3,333.33 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_23.15.28.pdf

Committee to Elect Shawn Hamerlinck: $191,169.64

$53,578.56 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_23.0.47.pdf

$1,275.75 on 10/19/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_19_21.28.47.pdf

$47,000 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_23.4.0.pdf

<https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_23.4.0.pdf>

$3,333.33 on 10/22/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_10_22_23.8.27.pdf

$85,982.00 on 5/24/2012

https://webapp.iecdb.iowa.gov/PublicView/IndepExpend/2012/Students%20First_OIE_2012_5_24_18.17.34.pdf

*

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