Webb watch
Over at the Deseret Morning News, LaVarr Webb is at it again.
Once more he is using his Sunday column to further the interests of his lobbyist business clients without disclosing the conflict.
In the most recent column, with the title, "Voters, approve vouchers in November," Webb devotes the entire piece to saying why vouchers are good for public schools.
Calling himself, public education's biggest fan, Webb laments the "ideological purity" that deludes the education establishment. Their voucher opposition -- "a near religious doctrine" -- crowds out facts and common sense, he says.
Webb delivers a convincing, forceful argument for vouchers, coming across as an open-minded fellow who has considered all sides.
Only problem -- he doesn't come clean with the fact he is a devout pro-voucher activist with business interests in the issue.
Webb is listed in state corporate filings as a director of the pro-voucher group Parents for Choice in Education Inc.
His Exoro lobbyist/political consulting group has in the past received thousands of dollars from the Parents for Choice political action committee. And his Utahpolicy.com web site has published paid advertorials promoting vouchers.
Nothing wrong with any of that -- Except one thing. Deseret Morning News readers of the column aren't told about it.
-- Dan Harrie
Once more he is using his Sunday column to further the interests of his lobbyist business clients without disclosing the conflict.
In the most recent column, with the title, "Voters, approve vouchers in November," Webb devotes the entire piece to saying why vouchers are good for public schools.
Calling himself, public education's biggest fan, Webb laments the "ideological purity" that deludes the education establishment. Their voucher opposition -- "a near religious doctrine" -- crowds out facts and common sense, he says.
Webb delivers a convincing, forceful argument for vouchers, coming across as an open-minded fellow who has considered all sides.
Only problem -- he doesn't come clean with the fact he is a devout pro-voucher activist with business interests in the issue.
Webb is listed in state corporate filings as a director of the pro-voucher group Parents for Choice in Education Inc.
His Exoro lobbyist/political consulting group has in the past received thousands of dollars from the Parents for Choice political action committee. And his Utahpolicy.com web site has published paid advertorials promoting vouchers.
Nothing wrong with any of that -- Except one thing. Deseret Morning News readers of the column aren't told about it.
-- Dan Harrie
8:38 AM
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9 Comments:
There's more in today's article by the Tribune's Kristin Moulton on the ballot question on a sales tax hike to fund road and transportation projects (built by reliable Republican donors and voters) in Northern Utah.
Steve Handy works for Exoro, which is paid by construction interests to promote a "yes" vote on the sales tax increase. Handy is also a member of the Layton City Council.
The Deseret News article on the sales tax campaign doesn't mention Handy or his conflict. It does, however, link to the campaign web site for the "yes" vote.
[rant]
I think that the people who thought that Joe Cannon taking over at the Des News was going to escalate this sort of unethical behavior have been proved justified.
Yet another good catch, Dan
[/rant]
Kind of like asking the SL Trib why reporters and columnists don't disclose their conflicts on each story. Your editorial board spent 20 minutes spinning, while trying to justify why that wasn't necessary. Very comical!
Legislators, while imperfect, provide more disclosure of conflicts than the DNews and SL Trib combined.
It's nice that Dan is keeping track of me, but I have absolutely no business interest in the voucher issue. The corporate filing Dan mentioned is apparently old and inactive. I am not a director of any voucher organization or even part of any informal strategy group, and have had nothing to do with the voucher campaign. I am doing no lobbying or consulting with any voucher group and have not done so for years. Years ago I did some very limited work for Parents for Choice in Education, but I have had no organizational or financial tie with the group for several years. My partner at the Exoro Group, Maura Carabello, is a strong voucher opponent and I can't recall any work Exoro has done for either side of the voucher campaign. A data company called Xi, which Maura and I have a partial interest in, has sold data to many Democrats, Republicans, and liberal and conservative interest groups. But I don't think it has sold data to either side of this year's voucher campaign.
LaVarr,
All you say is likely true. Nevertheless, here are some facts -- verifiable by anyone who chooses to.
The state Commerce Department lists you as a director of Parents for Choice in Education Inc., in its current, active filing.
Your Exoro Group received $7,000 from Parents for Choice in the 2004 election cycle. Yes, that was "years ago" but not that many years. And you published paid advertorials from Parents for Choice in your UtahPolicy.com.
Like I said, none of this is bad. It's all very fine and more power to you. But the connection should be disclosed in your column. Simple and helpful to readers of your column, like me.
There may be plenty of arguements to support vouchers but there is one arguement the pro-voucher people can't make with my and that is why I should have to pay for it. There is already plenty of choice for education in Utah with public schools in or out of your neighborhood or even district, charter schools, home schools and private schools. I don't think I should have my tax dollars going to an elite few as an entitlement because they don't want to be a part of the public school system.
From Lt. Gov.'s financial disclosure site
Exoro Information Corp.
06/23/2004
$2214.5
Database creation and maintenance fee
Exoro Information Corp.
09/08/2004
$981.0
Database completion of startup and maintenance fee for July/Aug/Sept
The Exoro Group
04/30/2004
$6094.0
Polling
From the Utah Department of Commerce
Name: Parents for Choice in Education, INC
Type: Corporation
City: Salt Lake City
Status: Active
Director: Doug Holmes
Director: Jordon Clements
Director: LaVarr Webb
Registered Agent: Elisa Clements
Secretary: Elisa Clements
This information was confirmed as active as of September 20, 2007
I found this on the Utah Amicus.
John Dougall is a big Fat liar.
I could ask 100 questions that he would avoid or spin.
Anonymous, name calling is a nice approach, especially when you are unwilling to put your name with your comment. Ask away.
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