A few folks have picked this up, but the details are definitely not public information. Patty Wetterling dropped in a challenge to Michele Bachmann's education credentials, leaving a big question unanswered - who was this mysterious group helping to fund Bachmann's congressional run?
Mr. Ed at Democratic Underground has a few comments regarding Bachmann's MPR claims. Then the Dump Bachmann website goes a few steps further by naming the organization (the Alliance for Separation of School and State) and which of their members are backing Bachmann. I believe the group can be summed up by ONE member and his accompanying credentials: Rev Ellsworth McIntyre - "How to Become a Millionaire in Christian Education".
Yeah, they're definitely in it for the kids.
Below is the text of a Wetterling press release after the MPR debate:
Bachmann lies again: "I have voted for every K-12 education bill."ANOKA, Minn. - Michele Bachmann, the Republican candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 6th District, continued to run from her state Senate record today on Minnesota Public Radio.
Bachmann, whose own children were home-schooled and sent to private schools, lied when she said, "I have voted for every K-12 education bill." In reality, she voted against an $8.8 billion early childhood - grade 12 education funding bill, against immediate emergency fuel assistance for school districts, and against a bill that appropriated over $13 billion for early childhood, K-12 and higher education.
Bachmann has also accepted over $50,000 from members of the Alliance of the Separation of School and State, an organization whose members sign the following pledge: "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education." Bachmann denied taking donations from the organization itself, but failed to mention that she has in fact taken generous contributions from the organization's members.
Bachmann's statements on education reveal her latest untruths and attempts to run from her record.
Please see fact check below.
MICHELE BACHMANN ON PUBLIC EDUCATIONBachmann: "I have voted for every K-12 education bill." -
Michele Bachmann, MPR, 10/20/06The Reality:
Bachmann opposed increased K-12 school funding.Bachmann voted against a bill that outlined appropriations and standards for K-12 schools and school districts, including early childhood. The total expenditures topped $8.8 billion. The bill passed 46-18. [SF 2359, 5/3/01]
Bachmann Voted Against Immediate Emergency Fuel Assistance For School Districts.When public schools needed emergency energy relief for their high winter heating costs, there was a bill on the Senate floor to provide them with $30 million in reimbursement for the heating costs. Bachmann voted against the measure even though it was only three percent of the projected $924 million budget surplus. [Stillwater Gazette, 2/21/01; SF 228, 2/5/01]
Bachmann Opposed Funding for Education, Public Safety, Economic Development, Environmental Programs.Bachmann voted against a bill that established the budget for much of the state government and included the following appropriations for 2006-07:
- Over $13 billion for early childhood, K-12, and higher education
- Over $340 million for agriculture and environmental programs [SF 1879, 3/23/05]
Bachmann Has Taken $50,000 in Contributions From Individuals Who Seek To Eliminate Public Education.Karl Bremer wrote in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that Bachmann's campaign contributions include about $50,000 from people who have signed a proclamation from the Alliance for the Separation of School and State. The proclamation of the alliance states: "I proclaim publicly that I favor ending government involvement in education."
[St. Paul Pioneer Press, 8/8/06]
