What do we have here? Check out the email message sent by state Rep. Jane Cunningham to the political director for All Children Matter, the pro-school vouchers PAC that has been pumping big money into Missouri elections. This message was intercepted last week and posted by Democrats opposing the incursion of All Children Matter and its hand-picked candidates. It contains a surprise or two:
Chad,
Thanks for the thorough report. Rodney Hubbard truly is a hero.
I was sorry about the 4th Senatorial. I like Derio Gambero a lot. We worked together on school choice when the Democrats were in control. Yaphett El-Amin was more with us than you all may have realized. Her husband should be an asset next session.
I have noticed that on the Citizens for Educational Freedom and MO Catholic Conference surveys, some reps are not being truthful. One is Connie Johnson who said she was for vouchers and has actively worked against them and was instrumental in overthrowing Ted Hoskins and Rodney Hubbard from their Black Caucus Leadership positions.
Cunningham’s research is not perfect. As the EYE previously noted, Johnson has called out pro-voucher groups for falsely claiming her allegiance and that of other legislators to their cause. So we can’t be certain if Cunningham is telling the truth when she says, “Yaphett El-Amin was more with us than you all may have realized. Her husband should be an asset next session.” But, we will see.
School vouchers are the new wedge issue of choice by Republicans, who seem willing to do anything to pull money out of the public sector – where it might actually fund health or education – and into the private sector. The EYE will be watching closely for stealth Republicans in blackface this next legislative session.
It will be a hot one on the voucher issue. State Rep. Rod Jetton, the speaker of the state House, is forming an Interim Committee on School Choice. He is breaking the traditions of the House and not allowing the leadership on the other side of the aisle to name Democrat members. He can expect to face a battle every step of the way.