Show me the money! SB 153

    In the Tulsa World article "496 Tulsa Public Schools students left for EPIC virtual school since August...", Senator Gary Stanislawski (the virtual champion for corporate education management firms) was quoted as saying "A big block of (public) money is going to a management company... we're going to pull the curtain back on the management company." From his statement, which appears to disparage EPIC Virtual Charter School's management company, Stan may be "biting the hand of those who feed him"... but a closer look at his statement may reveal the truth. He may not actually be biting anyone, but working with EPIC officials - so that he only appears to be its enemy. In reality, EPIC's private management company donated $2,000 to Stan's re-election campaign, so Stan is very unlikely to do anything such as sponsor effective laws to curb EPIC spending.
   The fact of the matter is - so what? if it becomes apparent (or transparent) that EPIC's private management CEO earns in excess of $5 million annually from Oklahoma taxpayers. It's not illegal to become a millionaire at taxpayers expense. It may be unethical, but certainly not illegal. Again, so what? Stan's transparency bill aimed at EPIC can only be judged as "firing blanks", because it will do nothing except advertise the fact that millionaires can be made in Oklahoma public schools. It's all perfectly legal..
   Senator Stanislawski wants everyone to believe that he doesn't know Ben Harris (EPIC CEO) or David Chaney (EPIC Virtual superintendent) or Bobby Stem (EPIC assistant superintendent in charge of lobbying). It's hard not to know someone, however, that has donated so heavily to one's campaign. So why did Stan say "we're going to pull the curtain back on the management company" (Harris)? Many legislation experts believe there is a deal in the works. Stan may be saying "I'll allow a transparency bill for EPIC to pass, if you will help pass my Senate Bill 153 - which will funnel more than $60 million more taxpayer dollars to EPIC. That's a win-win deal for EPIC as well as Senator Stan. Just show that Ben Harris has become a legal millionaire at state taxpayer expense, and we'll give you an additional $20 million - and it's all perfectly legal!