Kate Alexander of the Austin American Statesman engaged in some very loose journalism when she reported that an AG opinion on Thomas Ratliff, an SBOE member embroiled in a conflict of interest controversy, exonerates him.

The AG opinion does nothing of the sort.

The AG opinion says that they don’t have authority to decide on Thomas Ratliff specifically. The AG went on to say that lobbyists who represent clients connected to the SBOE are ineligible to serve on the SBOE. This is a very common sense rule.

In fact, Ratliff represents Microsoft. Microsoft is not only a vendor to the TEA directly but also services school districts around the state. The policies that the SBOE enacts affects these contracts.

Alexander reported on the AG opinion as an automatic win for Ratliff. The lie Alexander wants her readers to assume is that Thomas Ratliff is not lobbying on behalf of industries that have business with the board or whose bottom line is altered by board actions.

Alexander instead of relaying these facts to readers runs cover for Ratliff and tries to make this obvious conflict of interest look like a petty fight.

It is because of actions like Ratliff’s that Texans have become disillusioned with politicians. It is because of reporting like Alexander’s that Texans are turning to alternative sources for news.

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