A personal note to Thomas: Your father put the law (7.103) into the current
Education Code himself, the language that prohibits paid lobbyists from
serving on the State Board of Education, when he reviewed the existing
1994 education code and submitted his first draft of SB1; at that time the
prohibiting language was in 7.052 (c). The list at right from the Texas
Ethics Commission establishes you as a paid lobbyist. Please consider
this: Sometimes our fathers really do know best. Give yours his respect
and due -- and resign before Wednesday. If you want to be involved in
politics, here's a suggestion: Say a friendly goodbye to your 20 lobbying
jobs, sign these 10 ethics pledges, and run for another office.
Thomas Ratliff, however, was not questioned --
or at least not that I've been able to find. And
unlike Pat, Thomas is registered with the TEC
as a paid lobbyist not just for Microsoft but also
19 other clients, many of whose business
interests were potentially affected by the
legislation being considered by the House
public ed committee that day.
or at least not that I've been able to find. And
unlike Pat, Thomas is registered with the TEC
as a paid lobbyist not just for Microsoft but also
19 other clients, many of whose business
interests were potentially affected by the
legislation being considered by the House
public ed committee that day.
| BILL GATES' MAN IN TEXAS: THOMAS RATLIFF Q: Is Microsoft Thomas Ratliff's only client in Texas? A: According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Thomas Ratliff has at least 20 Texas lobbying clients. |
DATE:
MARCH 13, 2011
SUBJECT: MEDIA
QUERY: Microsoft paid
lobbyists incl. Thos.
Ratliff/TX ... Bill Gates
HARD DEADLINE:
Monday, March 14 /
11:30 a.m. PST
FROM: Peyton Wolcott
TO: [Microsoft's PR]
RAPID RESPONSE
TEAM AT WAGGENER
EDSTROM
Readers have been
sending me questions
(composite below) for
which I am seeking a
response from
Microsoft:
MARCH 13, 2011
SUBJECT: MEDIA
QUERY: Microsoft paid
lobbyists incl. Thos.
Ratliff/TX ... Bill Gates
HARD DEADLINE:
Monday, March 14 /
11:30 a.m. PST
FROM: Peyton Wolcott
TO: [Microsoft's PR]
RAPID RESPONSE
TEAM AT WAGGENER
EDSTROM
Readers have been
sending me questions
(composite below) for
which I am seeking a
response from
Microsoft:
- Does Microsoft
encourage its
employees and
paid lobbyists to
obey US laws?
Even though the
Texas Education
Code, Subchapter
A, Section 7.103
states that “A
person who is
required to
register as a
lobbyist.....by virtue
of the person’s
activities for
compensation in
or on behalf of a
profession,
business, or
association related
to the operation of
the board, may not
serve as a
member of the
board or act as the
general counsel to
the board," long-
time paid Microsoft
lobbyist Thomas
Ratliff ran for and
was elected to the
Texas State Board
of Education.
Does Microsoft
believe its
employees and/or
paid lobbyists to
be above the law? - How many of
Microsoft's other
paid corporate
lobbyists have
been elected or
appointed to state
and/or local school
boards? ....
FATHER KNOWS BEST?
April 10, 2011: Last fall, paid professional Microsoft lobbyist Thomas Ratliff ran for & won a seat on the Texas State Board of Education -- despite clearly defined prohibitions against paid professional
lobbyists from occupying seats on the SBOE. What's interesting is that the rules are there because Thomas' own dad, Bill, put them there when he rewrote the Texas Education Code in 1995.
April 10, 2011: Last fall, paid professional Microsoft lobbyist Thomas Ratliff ran for & won a seat on the Texas State Board of Education -- despite clearly defined prohibitions against paid professional
lobbyists from occupying seats on the SBOE. What's interesting is that the rules are there because Thomas' own dad, Bill, put them there when he rewrote the Texas Education Code in 1995.
| DEVELOPING: What is the "Common Cartridge," how does it relate to the Common Core Standards, and why is it a problem? |
| 2008 WALL STREET JOURNAL OP ED CALLING FOR FEDS' NATIONALIZATION OF 13,900 LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS INTO 70 here (including bio of author, former IBM chair & former RJReynolds chair Lou Gerstner) |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
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| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. NOTICE: All individuals mentioned on this site are presumed innocent unless they have been found guilty in a court of law. |
| Copyright 1999-2011 Peyton Wolcott |
"Walk softly and carry a big stick." -- Teddy Roosevelt "Trust but verify." -- Ronald Reagan |
| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n : o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . F o l l o w t h e m o n e y , h o n e y ! |
| Public Ed Commentary - Microsoft's man in Texas, Thomas Ratliff |
| Bringing you the information and tools you need in order to improve public education and reduce taxes and spending; during the past two decades of the voucher debate an entire generation has grown up in the public school system. If you don't think this is important look at the Nov. 2008 election where folks voted based on emotions and hope rather than facts. Let's put a stop to the school-to-prison pipeline -- and keep our public schools locally run, strong and free.. |
| GORGEous: Grand Old Rich Guys of Education |
| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n : o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . F o l l o w t h e m o n e y , h o n e y ! |
(last updated April 10, 2011)
| File #ML 4667511, I. D. #46675 -- Thomas Ratliff |
| That's Thomas Ratliff's dad Bill Ratliff above, third from right |
First below are relevant portions of both the 1994 Texas Education
Code (pre-Bill Ratliff's rewrite) and 1995 Texas Education Code as
introduced by none other than Bill Ratliff himself.
Below that are my April 8, 2011 emails to and from Thomas Ratliff and
my new ones to Thomas on April 10, 2011.
Speaking of emails, when you email Texas Attorney General Greg
Abbott be sure to include Thomas Ratliff's case information in the
subject line so Greg and the OAG office wi'll know what you're talking
about:
Code (pre-Bill Ratliff's rewrite) and 1995 Texas Education Code as
introduced by none other than Bill Ratliff himself.
Below that are my April 8, 2011 emails to and from Thomas Ratliff and
my new ones to Thomas on April 10, 2011.
Speaking of emails, when you email Texas Attorney General Greg
Abbott be sure to include Thomas Ratliff's case information in the
subject line so Greg and the OAG office wi'll know what you're talking
about:
| EXHIBIT "A" The Texas Education Code in 1994 -- before Thomas Ratliff's dad, then-senator Bill Ratliff, rewrote it the next year -- clearly prohibits paid professional lobbyists from serving on the State Board of Education: |
| EXHIBIT "B" As you can clearly read for yourself in the orange box below, Bill Ratliff left the original prohibition against paid lobbyists serving on the SBOE almost entirely intact in his first draft version of his rewrite of the ed code: |
| 2nd: Email to Bill Ratliff & to Thomas Ratliff: |
| 3rd: Email from Thomas Ratliff |
| 4th: Email to Thomas Ratliff |
| 5th: Email from Thomas Ratliff |
SUBJECT: MEDIA
QUERY: Bill Ratliff / SB
1 (1995)
DATE: Friday, April 8,
2011 2:02 PM
FROM: "Peyton Wolcott"
TO: "Bill Ratliff"
bratliff@ratliffcompany.com
Cc: "Thomas Ratliff"
tratliff@ratliffcompany.com
MESSAGE: Bill,
confirming that all of the
below language for
7.103 ELIGIBILITY FOR
MEMBERSHIP (a) (b)
and (c) was added as
part of SB 1 in 1995 to
the Texas Education
Code during your major
rewrite of the Code. If
my understanding is
incorrect please let me
know as soon as
possible.
Sec. 7.103. ELIGIBILITY
FOR MEMBERSHIP. (a)
A person is not eligible
for election to or service
on the board if the
person holds an office
with this state or any
political subdivision of
this state.
(b) A person may not be
elected from or serve in
a district who is not a
bona fide resident of the
district with one year's
continuous residence
before election. A
person is not eligible for
election to or service on
the board unless the
person is a qualified
voter of the district in
which the person
resides and is at least
26 years of age.
(c) A person who is
required to register as a
lobbyist under Chapter
305, Government Code,
by virtue of the person's
activities for
compensation in or on
behalf of a profession,
business, or
association related to
the operation of the
board, may not serve as
a member of the board
or act as the general
counsel to the board.
Added by Acts 1995,
74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec.
1, eff. May 30, 1995.
In the event you added
all of the above
language could you
please expand on (c)?
By copy to Thomas
Ratliff, your feedback
and insights are
welcome.
Thank you both very
much for your
anticipated help on this.
Would appreciate a
response at your
earliest opportunity.
Peyton Wolcott
QUERY: Bill Ratliff / SB
1 (1995)
DATE: Friday, April 8,
2011 2:02 PM
FROM: "Peyton Wolcott"
TO: "Bill Ratliff"
bratliff@ratliffcompany.com
Cc: "Thomas Ratliff"
tratliff@ratliffcompany.com
MESSAGE: Bill,
confirming that all of the
below language for
7.103 ELIGIBILITY FOR
MEMBERSHIP (a) (b)
and (c) was added as
part of SB 1 in 1995 to
the Texas Education
Code during your major
rewrite of the Code. If
my understanding is
incorrect please let me
know as soon as
possible.
Sec. 7.103. ELIGIBILITY
FOR MEMBERSHIP. (a)
A person is not eligible
for election to or service
on the board if the
person holds an office
with this state or any
political subdivision of
this state.
(b) A person may not be
elected from or serve in
a district who is not a
bona fide resident of the
district with one year's
continuous residence
before election. A
person is not eligible for
election to or service on
the board unless the
person is a qualified
voter of the district in
which the person
resides and is at least
26 years of age.
(c) A person who is
required to register as a
lobbyist under Chapter
305, Government Code,
by virtue of the person's
activities for
compensation in or on
behalf of a profession,
business, or
association related to
the operation of the
board, may not serve as
a member of the board
or act as the general
counsel to the board.
Added by Acts 1995,
74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec.
1, eff. May 30, 1995.
In the event you added
all of the above
language could you
please expand on (c)?
By copy to Thomas
Ratliff, your feedback
and insights are
welcome.
Thank you both very
much for your
anticipated help on this.
Would appreciate a
response at your
earliest opportunity.
Peyton Wolcott
SUBJECT: MEDIA
QUERY: Bill
Ratliff / SB 1
(1995)
DATE: Friday,
April 8, 2011 2:05
PM
FROM: "Thomas
Ratliff" <tratliff@
ratliffcompany.com>
TO: "Peyton
Wolcott"
Cc: "Bill Ratliff"
<bratliff@ratliffcompany.
com>
MESSAGE: You
are incorrect.
QUERY: Bill
Ratliff / SB 1
(1995)
DATE: Friday,
April 8, 2011 2:05
PM
FROM: "Thomas
Ratliff" <tratliff@
ratliffcompany.com>
TO: "Peyton
Wolcott"
Cc: "Bill Ratliff"
<bratliff@ratliffcompany.
com>
MESSAGE: You
are incorrect.
SUBJECT: MEDIA
QUERY: Bill Ratliff
/ SB 1 (1995)
DATE: Friday,
April 8, 2011 2:06
PM
FROM: "Peyton
Wolcott"
TO: "Thomas
Ratliff" <tratliff@
ratliffcompany.com>
Cc: "Bill Ratliff"
<bratliff@ratliffcompany.
com>
MESSAGE: 7.103
was written before
the 1995 rewrite
and left in?
Peyton Wolcott
QUERY: Bill Ratliff
/ SB 1 (1995)
DATE: Friday,
April 8, 2011 2:06
PM
FROM: "Peyton
Wolcott"
TO: "Thomas
Ratliff" <tratliff@
ratliffcompany.com>
Cc: "Bill Ratliff"
<bratliff@ratliffcompany.
com>
MESSAGE: 7.103
was written before
the 1995 rewrite
and left in?
Peyton Wolcott
SUBJECT:
MEDIA QUERY:
Bill Ratliff / SB 1
(1995)
DATE: Friday,
April 8, 2011 2:07
PM
FROM: "Thomas
Ratliff"
<tratliff@ratliffcom
pany.com>
TO: "Peyton
Wolcott"
Cc: "Bill Ratliff"
<bratliff@ratliffco
mpany.com>
MESSAGE: Yes
---------------------
Thomas Ratliff
(903) 717-1190
MEDIA QUERY:
Bill Ratliff / SB 1
(1995)
DATE: Friday,
April 8, 2011 2:07
PM
FROM: "Thomas
Ratliff"
<tratliff@ratliffcom
pany.com>
TO: "Peyton
Wolcott"
Cc: "Bill Ratliff"
<bratliff@ratliffco
mpany.com>
MESSAGE: Yes
---------------------
Thomas Ratliff
(903) 717-1190
A GOOD EXAMPLE
WHY TEXAS LAW PROHIBITS PAID LOBBYISTS FROM SITTING ON THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
By Peyton Wolcott
Sunday, April 10, 2011 - 7:30 p.m.
WHY TEXAS LAW PROHIBITS PAID LOBBYISTS FROM SITTING ON THE STATE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
By Peyton Wolcott
Sunday, April 10, 2011 - 7:30 p.m.
| 1st: Emails to Microsft re Thomas Ratliff |
| Oops. Looks like Thomas Ratliff may be misinformed. The language prohibiting lobbyists from serving on the SBOE is clearly included in this SB 1 his dad Bill Ratliff submitted: |
| Here's the lobbyists "may not serve" language in Bill Ratliff's own bill: |
TEXAS, THE RATLIFFS &
MICROSOFT: A LARGER
HISTORIC PICTURE
MICROSOFT: A LARGER
HISTORIC PICTURE
Thank you.
SUBJECT: MEDIA /
Follow up to MEDIA
QUERY (Microsoft paid
lobbyists incl. Thos.
Ratliff/TX ... Bill Gates)
DATE: Sunday, April 10,
2011 9:21 AM
FROM: From: "Peyton
Wolcott"
TO: "Jackie Lawrence"
<jlawrence@waggener
edstrom.com>
Cc: "RAPID
RESPONSE"
<rapidres@waggenere
dstrom.com>
MESSAGE: Jackie, I
will be publishing my
findings later today
regarding Texas State
Board of Education
member Thomas
Ratliff who is also
Microsoft's paid
professional lobbyist in
Texas despite very
clear language in our
state Education Code
(7.103) prohibiting
such.
I am contacting you one
more time before our
SBOE meets again this
week in Austin.
You have indicated that
the Waggener Edstrom
"Rapid Response"
team is working on
this; wondering given
that (a) almost a month
has transpired now
and (b) still no factual
response has come,
what your "regular" or
"slow" response
teams' (if they exist)
response times might
be.
If there is any
information Waggener
Edstrom requires that I
can provide that will
help Waggener
Edstrom respond
before the SBOE
convenes this week,
please let me know at
your earliest and I will
help to the best of my
ability.
Thank you for
Waggener Edstrom's
quick anticipated
response on behalf of
Bill Gates and Microsoft.
Best --
Peyton Wolcott
Follow up to MEDIA
QUERY (Microsoft paid
lobbyists incl. Thos.
Ratliff/TX ... Bill Gates)
DATE: Sunday, April 10,
2011 9:21 AM
FROM: From: "Peyton
Wolcott"
TO: "Jackie Lawrence"
<jlawrence@waggener
edstrom.com>
Cc: "RAPID
RESPONSE"
<rapidres@waggenere
dstrom.com>
MESSAGE: Jackie, I
will be publishing my
findings later today
regarding Texas State
Board of Education
member Thomas
Ratliff who is also
Microsoft's paid
professional lobbyist in
Texas despite very
clear language in our
state Education Code
(7.103) prohibiting
such.
I am contacting you one
more time before our
SBOE meets again this
week in Austin.
You have indicated that
the Waggener Edstrom
"Rapid Response"
team is working on
this; wondering given
that (a) almost a month
has transpired now
and (b) still no factual
response has come,
what your "regular" or
"slow" response
teams' (if they exist)
response times might
be.
If there is any
information Waggener
Edstrom requires that I
can provide that will
help Waggener
Edstrom respond
before the SBOE
convenes this week,
please let me know at
your earliest and I will
help to the best of my
ability.
Thank you for
Waggener Edstrom's
quick anticipated
response on behalf of
Bill Gates and Microsoft.
Best --
Peyton Wolcott
Ratliff, Robert Thomas (00031723)
(512) 494-9180
500 West 13th Street Austin, TX 78701
American Insurance Association
P.O. Box 12963 Austin, TX 78711
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
American International Group
2929 Allen Parkway Suite L4-02 Houston, TX 77019
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$10,000 - $24,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Archangel Capital Partners LLC
P.O. Box 600323 Dallas, TX 75360-0323
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
P.O. Drawer 1210 Durant, OK 74702-6170
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
El Paso Electric Company
P.O. Box 982 El Paso, TX 79960
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$50,000 - $99,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
EmCare
1717 Main Street Suite 5200 Dallas, TX 75201
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$10,000 - $24,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Emergency Medicine Consultants
6451 Brentwood Stair Suite 200 Fort Worth, TX 76112
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Emergency Physicians Affiiliates
16414 San Pedro Ave. # 710 San Antonio, TX 78232
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Emergency Service Partners
6300 La Calma Drive Suite 200 Austin, TX 78752
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Greater Houston Emergency Physicians PLLC
211 Highland Cross Suite 275 Houston, TX 77073
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
HEB Emergicare PA
1600 Hospital Pkwy Bedford, TX 76022
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$50,000 - $99,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Orchid Cellmark
4390 U.S. Route One Princeton, NJ 08540
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Questcare Medical Services
12221 Merit Drive Suite 1610 Dallas, TX 75251
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Reed Elsevier (Lexis-Nexis)
1150 18th Street NW # 600 Washington, DC 20036
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Schumacher Group
200 Corporate Blvd Suite 201 Lafayette, LA 70508
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$10,000 - $24,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
T-Mobile USA
12920 SE 38th Street Bellevue, WA 98006
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
TeamHealth
1900 Winston Road Suite 300 Knoxville, TN 37919
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
6200 La Calma Drive Suite 110 Austin, TX 78752
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 03/07/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Texas Nurse Practitioners Association
4425 S. MoPac Bldg III Suite# 405 Austin, TX 78735
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
(512) 494-9180
500 West 13th Street Austin, TX 78701
American Insurance Association
P.O. Box 12963 Austin, TX 78711
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
American International Group
2929 Allen Parkway Suite L4-02 Houston, TX 77019
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$10,000 - $24,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Archangel Capital Partners LLC
P.O. Box 600323 Dallas, TX 75360-0323
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
P.O. Drawer 1210 Durant, OK 74702-6170
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
El Paso Electric Company
P.O. Box 982 El Paso, TX 79960
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$50,000 - $99,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
EmCare
1717 Main Street Suite 5200 Dallas, TX 75201
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$10,000 - $24,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Emergency Medicine Consultants
6451 Brentwood Stair Suite 200 Fort Worth, TX 76112
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Emergency Physicians Affiiliates
16414 San Pedro Ave. # 710 San Antonio, TX 78232
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Emergency Service Partners
6300 La Calma Drive Suite 200 Austin, TX 78752
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Greater Houston Emergency Physicians PLLC
211 Highland Cross Suite 275 Houston, TX 77073
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
HEB Emergicare PA
1600 Hospital Pkwy Bedford, TX 76022
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$50,000 - $99,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Orchid Cellmark
4390 U.S. Route One Princeton, NJ 08540
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Questcare Medical Services
12221 Merit Drive Suite 1610 Dallas, TX 75251
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Reed Elsevier (Lexis-Nexis)
1150 18th Street NW # 600 Washington, DC 20036
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Schumacher Group
200 Corporate Blvd Suite 201 Lafayette, LA 70508
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$10,000 - $24,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
T-Mobile USA
12920 SE 38th Street Bellevue, WA 98006
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
TeamHealth
1900 Winston Road Suite 300 Knoxville, TN 37919
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
6200 La Calma Drive Suite 110 Austin, TX 78752
Type of Compensation: Prospective
Less Than $10,000.00
Client Start Date: 03/07/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
Texas Nurse Practitioners Association
4425 S. MoPac Bldg III Suite# 405 Austin, TX 78735
Type of Compensation: Prospective
$25,000 - $49,999.99
Client Start Date: 01/11/2011
Client Term Date: 12/31/2011
| TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION 2011 Lobby List with Concerns (Employers and Clients) Sorted By Lobbyist Name [ as of April 4, 2011 ] |
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Thomas Ratliff at TX Lege: Was he
there as a paid Microsoft lobbyist --
or as an SBOE member?
Given Thomas Ratliff's extensive experience as
a paid professional lobbyist, including
representing client Microsoft's interests to the
legislature since 1998, along with his status as
Microsoft's highest paid lobbyist in the entire
State of Texas (per documents submitted to the
Texas Ethics Commission), and given that
issues being considered by the public ed
committee directly impacted the fortunes of
Thomas Ratliff's client Microsoft -- well, you see
the ethics dilemma for everybody involved, not
the least of which is Microsoft.
So, why is professional lobbyist Thomas Ratliff
still sitting on the State Board of Education?
there as a paid Microsoft lobbyist --
or as an SBOE member?
Given Thomas Ratliff's extensive experience as
a paid professional lobbyist, including
representing client Microsoft's interests to the
legislature since 1998, along with his status as
Microsoft's highest paid lobbyist in the entire
State of Texas (per documents submitted to the
Texas Ethics Commission), and given that
issues being considered by the public ed
committee directly impacted the fortunes of
Thomas Ratliff's client Microsoft -- well, you see
the ethics dilemma for everybody involved, not
the least of which is Microsoft.
So, why is professional lobbyist Thomas Ratliff
still sitting on the State Board of Education?
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| SBOE members Thomas Ratliff (left) and Pat Hard (right) at March 22, 2011 House of Representatives Public Ed Committee |
March & April 2011: Emails to and from Microsoft
Corporation's PR firm, Bill Ratliff & his son Thomas Ratliff
(please read clockwise from top left, starting with "1st")
Corporation's PR firm, Bill Ratliff & his son Thomas Ratliff
(please read clockwise from top left, starting with "1st")
At the March 22, 2011
meeting of the Texas House
of Representatives Public
Education committee, two
members of the SBOE were
in attendance, Thomas
Ratliff (left) and Pat Hardy
(right).
Both spoke to the
committee, and both
identified themselves as
members of the SBOE.
When Pat -- who is not
registered as a paid lobbyist
registered with the Texas
meeting of the Texas House
of Representatives Public
Education committee, two
members of the SBOE were
in attendance, Thomas
Ratliff (left) and Pat Hardy
(right).
Both spoke to the
committee, and both
identified themselves as
members of the SBOE.
When Pat -- who is not
registered as a paid lobbyist
registered with the Texas
Ethics Commission -- was questioned by the committee as to whether she was there
on official business from the State Board of Education, she replied that she was not --
and volunteered that she had not read the bill she was about to testify on. Good for
Pat; refreshing candor from an elected official.
on official business from the State Board of Education, she replied that she was not --
and volunteered that she had not read the bill she was about to testify on. Good for
Pat; refreshing candor from an elected official.
| When NAACP-TX legislative liaison Yannis Banks (top) turned in his card to the House public ed committee on March 22, 2011, Thomas Ratliff (above) immediately followed Yannis (inset, red tie) out the door, was it accidental timing or did Thomas discuss SBOE matters with Yannis -- or matters involving any of Thomas' 20 paid lobbying clients including Microsoft & AIG (chart at right)? |
| APRIL 10, 2011 UPDATE: As no answers have come yet -- and our SBOE reconvenes this week, I have emailed Microsoft's PR firm Waggener Edstrom's "Ready Response Team": |
| (Received 3 minutes later) |
| (Received 1 minute later) |
| 6th: Emails to Bill Ratliff & Thomas Ratliff sending links to this page and related |
| Sending: April 10, 2011 |
| Some other stuff Microsoft founders can buy |
| Octopus is a 414 foot (126 m) megayacht owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft. Delivered in 2003, it was believed to be the biggest such yacht at the time of its construction.[1] It is currently the world's 11th largest superyacht, the third largest superyacht not owned by a head of state. Octopus sports two helicopters[1] on the top deck (one in front and one on the back), and a 63-foot (19 m) tender docked in the transom (one of seven aboard). The yacht also has a pool, located aft on one of her upper decks, and two submarines (one of them operated by remote control for studying the bottom of the ocean). Side hatches at the water line form a dock for jet skis. The exterior was designed by Espen Øino Naval Architects and built by the German shipbuilders Lürssen in Bremen and HDW in Kiel. Her hull is made of steel. The interior was by designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett of Seattle. Allen also owns Tatoosh, another of the world's 100 largest yachts. On January 31st 2011 one of the hellicopters of the yacht had to perform an emergency landing on the water just after it took off from the yacht whilst sailing in Ushuaia, Argentina. According to an Argentine Coast Guard officer, no casualties were reported and the aircraft had not leaked oil in to the sea.[2] (from Wikipedia) |
| More about Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's yacht, the Octopus below |
Some other points of view
This past week I contacted a number of individuals of all
ilks regarding Thomas Ratliff's having to recuse himself
from SBOE matters so often at the January SBOE
meeting:
Here's a composite of some of their printable responses:
This past week I contacted a number of individuals of all
ilks regarding Thomas Ratliff's having to recuse himself
from SBOE matters so often at the January SBOE
meeting:
Here's a composite of some of their printable responses:
- Does the Ratliff family, pater et fils [father and son],
consider themselves above the law the daddy wrote? - The son's only on the state board so Gates can get all
50 states lined up on his Common Standards and grab
his accompanying multi-billion tech windfall. - Aside from unexplored Microsoft/Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation issues, Tommy Boy must recuse himself
on many votes regarding Permanent School Fund items - Thomas R's recusals: ratification of ALL Texas tech
purchases for pupils, the PSF investment portfolio. - Many, - many - many SBOE decisions impact PSF's
Microsoft holdings (3rd largest in PSF). - Tex. S.B.O.E. hires money managers intrinsically
related to Thomas Ratliff's representation of several
private equity clients. - I personally heard him recuse himself -- this is on tape
-- from when they talked about technology for the TEKS. - Ask him about the Choctaws and the new push by Joe
Straus & pals to legalize gambling. - If Pa Ratliff comes forward and says his boy should be
able to serve, does this mean we get to give back the
1995 TAAS and get the Pearson Empire out of Texas? - Thomas Ratliff recuses himself? The mere fact of his
recusals prima facie establishes that he meets the
statutory definition of his being a paid lobbyist with
clients whose business interests are directly related to
the operation of the Texas State Board of Education. - Remind me: Why didn't the Attorney General block
TR's filing for candidacy as an SBOE member to begin
with?
Here's hoping Thomas Ratliff will save Texas schoolchildren and their parents and taxpayers
the expense, time and energy of a protracted battle with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
and submit a graceful resignation before the SBOE convenes later this week. More and
more of us are coming to the conclusion that on at least this one point -- the prohibition
against lobbyists serving on the State Board -- Thomas Ratliff's father knows best.
the expense, time and energy of a protracted battle with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott
and submit a graceful resignation before the SBOE convenes later this week. More and
more of us are coming to the conclusion that on at least this one point -- the prohibition
against lobbyists serving on the State Board -- Thomas Ratliff's father knows best.
| Above, when SBOE member Pat Hardy (at the podium) testified before the House Public Education Committee on March 22, 2011, the committee clarified that she did so as an individual -- as not as a member of the SBOE on official business. (All photos above by Peyton Wolcott) |
| Above, lobbyists in the lobby; below, another glimpse of NAACP-TX Yannis Banks' distinctive red tie. |
Is the answer that Attorney General Abbott has not yet officially told Thomas Ratliff to step down?
| An imaginary conversation: Thomas Ratliff & Bill Gates |
SBOE chair Gail Lowe's letter to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott re SBOE & lobbying activities |