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Monthly Archives: November 2009

FDL Action Health Care Update: Thursday (11/19/09)

20 Friday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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( – promoted by Clark)

Here are the FDL Action health care reform highlights for Thursday, November 19.

1. Jon Walker lays out “eight things wrong with the Senate health care bill,” beginning with “Delays Start Until 2014” and including “Nationwide Plans Gutting State Regulation.” Definitely a few things that need to be fixed here.

2. Jane Hamsher has a statement from FDL on the Senate health care bill. The statement concludes, “If Harry Reid truly cares about fighting for the good of the country over the good of Wellpoint, he will immediately dispense with the opt-out and move to reconciliation and allow a majority in the Senate to deliver to Americans what they want and desperately need.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear at the moment that Reid is so inclined.

3. Speaking of the opt-out, Jon Walker writes that the “CBO has concluded that the design of the opt-out provision will end up denying the public option to roughly a third of the population in this country.” Needless to say, that would not be good.

4. Jon Walker identifies the “most frightening line in the CBO report,” regarding risk adjustment mechanisms in the Senate bill that are “dangerously weak.” According to Walker, “that might not sound scary, but that line should strike fear in the hearts of any health care policy expert.” Find out why by clicking here.

5. Jon Walker writes that “at the request of AHIP, [the] Senate bill guts state  health insurance regulations.” Walker says that this “is a dramatic move by the federal government, forcing states to deregulate their health insurance markets,” and that it could “gut state health insurance regulations and create a race to the bottom.” Other than that, it’s great! (snark)

6. Jon Walker examines the House and Senate health care bills and concludes that the House bill is 12% more cost-effective than the Senate bill.

7. Jon Walker analyzes “how the Senate abortion language differs from Stupak”. In short, the Stupak amendment “would make it practically impossible for any insurance provider to offer abortion coverage on the exchange for a variety of financial and legal reasons.”

8. Jane Hamsher contrasts Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) “hold[ing] health care…hostage” while Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter “brings Olbermann clinics to Arkansas.” Quite a contrast.

9. Finally, Jon Walker reports that, “{l}ike a monster in some B horror movie,” Tom Carper is now working with Olympia Snowe “to bring back the trigger, which [Carper] has comically named the ‘hammer.'” The hammer? What, is this named after Tom DeLay or something? Weird.

Stopping climate change is really, really too hard.

19 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Claire McCaskill, climate change bill, missouri

Sen. McCaskill explains why the Senate can’t be bothered to do anything about the climate bill:

Some senators are skeptical lawmakers will be ready to tackle another huge issue after finishing health care. “After you do one really, really big, really, really hard thing that makes everybody mad, I don’t think anybody’s excited about doing another really, really big thing that’s really, really hard that makes everybody mad,” Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said. “Climate fits that category.”

This is a grownup Senator talking?

Well, dagnabbit, I wish I’d thought of that when discussing future goals with ex-managers during performance reviews. ‘No, no, I don’t need to move on to any next project, I already did one really, really hard thing this year. And hold my calls, would you? They interrupt my Mahjong Titans time.’

The writer at AlterNet adds to her commentary a priceless video of George Bush talking about hard work. Just skedaddle on over there and enjoy yourself.

The Republican Party's steady descent into madness

19 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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2010 Elections, Republican Party, Roy Blunt

Winston Churchill once said “If you’re going through hell, keep going”. An element of the Republican base and Republican party appear to have accept the advice of “If you’re going through hell, go crazy.”

Public Policy Polling’s latest poll found this information:

The poll asked this question: “Do you think that Barack Obama legitimately won the Presidential election last year, or do you think that ACORN stole it for him?” The overall top-line is legitimately won 62%, ACORN stole it 26%.

Among Republicans, however, only 27% say Obama actually won the race, with 52% — an outright majority — saying that ACORN stole it, and 21% are undecided. Among McCain voters, the breakdown is 31%-49%-20%. By comparison, independents weigh in at 72%-18%-10%, and Democrats are 86%-9%-4%.

For those of you curious about how many votes would need to be stolen to pull off this delusion? Between 1.1 and 9.5 million votes. 1.1M is the margin of Obama’s victory in 7 states. 9.5M is his margin of victory overall. Obama won 69M votes, the most ever.

The main effect of the Scozzafava purge wasn’t to drive the Republican Party to the right, but to silence anybody who opposed the paranoid wing of the party. The previous split between “silly” and “sensible” in Republican is virtually gone, replaced by “cowards” and “kooks”. Anybody speaking out against the Sarah Palin Society in the Republican Party is going to get undermined and defeated. Dede Scozzafava was the last, Arlen Specter was on their list, and Charlie Crist’s fall from popular governor to purge victim appears to be certain.

We know that Roy Blunt probably doesn’t believe in a mass ACORN conspiracy to deny John McCain his victory. Although he has already waffled on Obama being a US Citizen. He just doesn’t want to anger his base any further. He knows that if he shows the courage to speak out against nutjobbery, all he will get is nothing.

November 4th, 2008 was the beginning of end times for civility and cooperation in the Republican Party. Now the Republican party appears to be relying on the traits of craziness and cowardice. There’s no going back, It’s terminal now.

Ed Martin and Chris Kelly debate term limits

19 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Bob Holden's Pizza and Politics, Chris Kelly, Ed Martin, missouri, term limits

At Governor Holden’s monthly Pizza and Politics forum Wednesday evening, Ed Martin, the Republican challenging Russ Carnahan next year, and Chris Kelly, a Democratic representative who was elected in Columbia just last year, faced off on the question of term limits.

Kelly spoke first. Because he had previously served in the legislature for twelve years in the eighties and early nineties, he had the historical knowledge to appreciate how the House differs from what it used to be. His main argument was that term limits destroy necessary institutional memory and depth of knowledge. Bitter partisanship fills the gap left by departing long term legislators.

Kelly pointed out that currently, each party caucuses with its members twice a week, and they use those occasions to “throw each other partisan red meat” and “inflame sectarian passion.” In the past, he says, representatives had served with each other sometimes for decades. It was harder to characterize someone as a mindless Republican shill if you had been to his daughter’s wedding.

And people voted their own conscience instead of lock stepping with their party.

“In the bad ole days before we had term limits, we caucused twice a session because no one in their right mind would go to the caucus and listen to their political party tell them how to vote.” Kelly maintained that if the party had tried to tell them how to vote, legislative giants like John Schneider and Wayne Goode would have said something like “‘Go to hell. I know what I’m supposed to do. I’ve been on this issue for many, many years. I understand the issue very well. I’ve spent my entire adult life studying it, and I’m gonna decide how I’m going to vote based on that store of knowledge.'”

The video clip begins with Kelly describing how much less today’s legislators know:

I post his pledge for the record. But I don’t expect it to be put to the test with a win next year.  

The Blame Lies With McCaskill… and Us

19 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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http://blog.showmeprogress.com…

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: a march on a cold and rainy day

19 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Aaron Podolefsky, missouri, student protest, University of Central Missouri

This is the thirty-first post in an ongoing series as we file Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo 610) requests and investigate the non-renewal of the contract of University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky. Links to previous coverage are below the fold. BG and MB

Students organized a march today which started at 10:00 a.m., moving from the Administration Building to the president’s residence at Selmo Park, to show their support for University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky. Approximately twenty-five individuals (including students, faculty, and community members) braved the cold rain to attend the event.

Deleta Williams, a former member of the Board of Governors (who was in the minority in the 4-3 vote to renew Aaron Podolefsky’s contract and who, as then board president, was apprised by letter early in 2008 about an approach to faculty initiated by another board member), attended the march and spoke in front of the Administration Building:

…out in the public making that known. I also appreciate the local people that have attended today. And one, again, thank you very much. Personally I, I’m very committed to the idea that President Podolefsky has done an excellent job at this University. And as was just said earlier about all the challenges that we meet, or have, right now, is not the time to be changing the administration. And so I am happy to be here today and to participate with all of you.

Former Board of Governors member Dee Hudson, who chaired the search when Aaron Podolefsky was selected as president, also spoke at the Administration Building:

…I’m here to support the University in that when I was on the board we worked very hard to move the University forward. And I think many good things happened. I look to the construction that’s going on right now in a time of budget crunch and yet we are busy building here. I look at the, the image of the University. We wanted very much to become a world class institution and we have now been listed in different magazines and places where they tend to rate universities. And we’ve been very successful in that….

Student Nick McDaniels, one of the organizers of the march, spoke at Selmo Park:

…I was told as a student, that it was my duty to question things, by professors. And that’s what this institution has always taught me, to question things and to be active and to never just take  somebody’s word for it. But to, to really educate myself on every issue. But, recently I was told by the Board of Governors that, actually, a member of the Board of Governors that I was to trust them. And that that was, that was, their job was to be, to look out for the best interest of the students. And I, I had such a hard time accepting this and I still can’t. I feel as students we must question them, that’s what this University has taught us, and that’s what we must do in the future. We must question and educate ourselves on the issues. And that’s why we’re here today, to protest the board and them doing what they think is best, and not what the University, what’s best for the University.

Student Derek Wiseman also spoke at Selmo Park:

…We all came today because we feel very strongly about this issue. And we disagree heavily with the board’s decision. And we feel like we deserve reasons for their decision…

Our previous coverage:

Three steps behind, and to the right (January 25, 2008)

Three steps behind, and to the right, part 2 – a microcosm of our universe (September 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? (October 15, 2009) (transcript of a portion of the live radio broadcast)

It wasn’t just about a tree (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: let’s not get cut out of the will (October 22, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: $87.75 will get you one sheet of paper (October 23, 2009)



“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: They’re not playing hardball, they’re playing cat and mouse
 (October 23, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a cola and some scoreboards (October 24, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a few more pieces of the puzzle? (October 28, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your silence means consent (October 29, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: let’s not get cut out of the will, part 2 (October 30, 2009)

Old media irony impairment (October 30, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio, part 2 (October 31, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: where everybody knows your name (October 31, 2009)

Methinks that someone is paying attention! (November 2, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Bond, Stadium Bond (November 4, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: where everybody knows your name, part 2 (November 4, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: I heard it on the radio, part 3 (November 5, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: nothing succeeds like success (November 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your Friday news dump (November 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: nothing exceeds like excess (November 7, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a grade for Accounting 101 (November 7, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there ought to be a law (November 8, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there’s gotta be a contract around here somewhere (November 9, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there ought to be a law, part 2 (November 10, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Garbo speaks! (November 12, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle (November 13, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? Follow the money and it reveals the timeline (November 14, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: the new president search consulting contract (November 18, 2009)

FDL Action Health Care Update: Wednesday (11/18/09)

19 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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( – promoted by Clark)

Here are the FDL Action health care reform highlights for Wednesday, November 18.

1. Jane Hamsher reports that voting is now open for the Public Option Please (POP) art contest. There are six finalists, vote now!

2. Jon Walker writes that “it seems [Senator Thomas] Carper [D-DE] has completely reinvented (cribbed? copied?) Snowe’s trigger proposal, and must be hoping no one notices.”  Whoops, we noticed! 🙂

3. Jon Walker writes about a new CBS News poll which “found that a majority of Americans (51%) want Congress to pass a health care bill with a public option.” Only 26% of Americans prefer “no bill at all,” while an even smaller share (16%) would like a health care bill without a public option. Part of that 16%, of course, is Joe Lieberman, who is now being asked by “Concerned Clergy of Connecticut”, “what is it that your conscience tells you?”  A scary thought, indeed.

4. Jane Hamsher urges women to “get realistic about your uteruses.” I think I’ll just let Jane explain this one. LOL.

5. Jon Walker analyzes the Capps, Ellsworth, Stupak, and Senate Finance language on abortion.

6. Jon Walker says that “Ben Nelson is unlikely to block allowing debate to proceed on health care reform” because – get this – he fears that if he doesn’t, the legislation would move ahead under reconcilation and turn out less “moderate” (e.g., more progressive) than he and his pal Joe Lieberman would prefer. And that would be a bad thing, apparently. Got it.

7. Jon Walker writes that the Senate health care bill, at long last, will be unveiled tonight, with a vote possible on the motion to proceed as early as Saturday night. Of course, as Walker points out, “allowing a bill to be debated on the Senate floor is a long way from allowing the final up-or-down vote needed to pass the bill out of the Senate.” Hey, after decades of waiting, why rush this thing? (snark)

8. I blog about a story in North Decoder on Kent “Coop” Conrad calling Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Dakota “irresponsible” for a mailing it did on health care reform. What’s hilarious is that Conrad has been the biggest proponent of health care cooperatives, yet that’s exactly what “irresponsible” BCBS of North Dakota hopes to be under federal legislation. Nice, huh? 🙂

PPP: Robin v. Roy, 11/18/09

18 Wednesday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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2010 Elections, Chuck Purgason, PPP, Robin Carnahan, Roy Blunt

Public Policy Polling, 11/13-15, 769 voters

Carnahan (D) 43%

Blunt (R) 42%

Undecided 15%

Blunt 53%

Purgason 16%

Undecided 31%

Carnahan (D) 42%

Purgason (R) 35%

Undecided 23%

More info under the fold

Favorable/Unfavorables

Obama: 43/52

Carnahan: 40/36

Blunt: 30/38

Purgason: 7/14

Congressional Democrats: 27/58

Congressional Republicans: 21/62

“Next year do you think you will vote in the Democratic Primary, the Republican primary, or will you not vote in a primary?”

Democratic 41%, Republican 41%, Not Sure/Won’t Vote 18%

“Do you think that Congressional Democrats are too liberal, too conservative, or about right?”

“Do you think that Congressional Republicans are too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

59% say Dems are too liberal, 29% say Reps are too liberal. 12% say Dems are too conservative, 43% say Reps are too conservative. 29% say that Dems are about right, 28% say that Reps are about right.

During Roy Blunt’s 13 years in Congress do you think he has been part of the problem or part of the solution when it comes to huge deficits and too much government spending?

Problem: 65%

Solution: 35%

If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a Republican, press 2. If you are an independent or identify with another party, press 3.

Democrats: 36%

Republicans: 32%

Independent/Others: 33%

How about some internals?

82% of Dems approve of how Obama’s doing his job, 88% of Reps disapprove of Obama’s job performance, Indys split 59/32 unfavorable. Obama’s best demo is 18-29 (46/44) and his worst is 65+ (57/37). 816 (KC area) and 314 (STL) approve of Obama, the rest disapprove by 30 points or more.

53% of Republicans view Blunt favorably, 53% of Democrats view Blunt unfavorably, with 30%+ unsure on both sides. Indies split 44/23 unfavorable. Blunt doesn’t top 32% amongst any age demo. Amongst 417 (SW MO) respondents, Blunt has 38% favorability and 38% of people viewing him unfavorably. Yes, amongst his “base”, for every person who likes him, someone dislikes him.

67% of Republicans view Carnahan unfavorably, 74% of Democrats view Carnahan favorably. Indies split 40/33 unfavorable. Carnahan’s best Demo is 46-65. The least certain demo is 18-29 (37% unsure). Robin has a positive with 314 and 816, and is within 10 with 660 respondents.

82% of Republicans picked Blunt, 83% of Democrats picked Carnahan. Indies split 44/32 Blunt. Carnahan wins 18-29 and 46-65. Carnahan wins 314 and 816, Blunt wins 417, 573 and 636 by 15+. Blunt wins 660 by a 42/35 margin.

10% of McCain voters will vote in the Democratic primary, 5% of Obama voters will vote in the Republican primary. (originally I did McCain/Obama splits before getting to the DRIs and editing. But this is more interesting than the DRI split here)

Blunt beats Purgason, 61/10 amongst Republicans and loses Democrats who got lost and who’d vote in a Republican primary, while winning 37/24 amongst Independents.

60% of Democrats view Congressional Democrats favorably, 94% of Republicans view Congressional Democrats unfavorably. Indies split 66/17 unfavorable. 40% of 18-29 view them favorably, and every other Demo is baaad for the Congressional Democrats. Only 314 respondents view Congressional Dems favorably.

44% of Republicans view Congressional Republicans unfavorably, 38% of Republicans view Congressional Republicans favorably. 79% of Democrats view Congressional Republicans unfavorably. Indies split 68/14 unfavorable. 18-29% is 30% favorable, 65+ is 53% unfavorable, the best showings for the Grand Obstructionist Party. 417 respondents had a 20% net unfavorable, a high for the Republicans.

57% of Democrats think Congressional Democrats are just right. 21% say too conservative. 22% say too liberal. 91% of Republicans say Congressional Democrats are too liberal. 46-65 are the best demo for “just right”.

50% of Republicans think that Congressional Republicans are just right, and 38% think that Congressional Republicans are too liberal. 73% of Democrats say that Congressional Republicans are too conservative. 36% of 18-29s say that Congressional Republicans are too liberal, compared to 35% in that demo..

36% of Republicans think that Blunt’s part of the problem, to go along with 83% of Democrats. But 48% of McCain voters think that Blunt is part of the problem. 74% of Indies think that Blunt is part of the problem.. Around 73% of voters from 18 to 45 think Blunt is part of the problem.

And how about some maps?

Roy v. Robin

Obama’s job approval

Blunt, problem or solution?

Conclusions

1) Robin Carnahan has some room to expand amongst some favorable demographics (18-29).

2) Roy Blunt’s base likes him as much as base Republicans liked John McCain.

3) Nobody know who Chuck Purgason is, but his polling numbers exceed his name recognition.

4) People in the KC and STL areas still like Democrats.

5) Roy Blunt is a Washington Insider who is part of the reason for the problems we’re seeing today, and people at least see his time as a GOP leader as a problem.

6) Independent voters don’t like anybody.

7) Congress isn’t popular. Good luck to any current Congressmen who were Republican leaders on selling themselves as outsiders.

Sierra Club condemns Koster's decison

18 Wednesday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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CAFO's, Koster, missouri, Sierra Club

On November 14, the Executive Committee of the Missouri Chapter of the Sierra Club passed a resolution condemning Atty Gen Koster’s decision to appeal a judge’s ruling in the Arrow Rock case.

He says he’s doing this because it’s not up to judges to make legislative decisions.  You can bet a barn load of manure that he’d put this on the back burner and forget about it if he agreed with the judge.

Since there is virtually nothing progressive groups can do to intervene legally in this case, our best effort should go into making it really uncomfortable for Koster politically.  To that end, I will ask area Democrat clubs to pass this same resolution.  Koster needs to know we’re paying attention to this issue.

Whereas noxious odors and liquid waste runoffs from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations detract from citizens’ experience of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, and constitute health hazards; and

Whereas tourism is important to Missouri’s economy; and

Whereas our parks and historic sites provide educational experiences and restorative experiences of nature to Missourians; and  

Whereas rulings in 2008 by Cole County Judge Patricia Joyce established a two-mile buffer around Arrow Rock, a historic mid-Missouri village, barring concentrated animal feeding operations within it; and

Whereas Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has filed an appeal of Judge Joyce’s two-mile ruling, questioning the process by which Judge Joyce determined the need for a two-mile limit;

Now therefore Missouri Sierra Club protests Attorney General Koster’s decision to appeal, asks him to withdraw the appeal, and calls upon the General Assembly to pass legislation for a CAFO-free buffer zone around the fifty Missouri State Parks and thirty-nine State Historic sites.

His website says that anything having to do with agriculture/environmental issues will be routed to Dept. of Natural Resources, and I’ve not heard anything good about that Dept lately, have you?  Maybe we should deliver some samples of what we’re dealing with to his office. That would really raise a stink.

http://ago.mo.gov/contactus.htm

Keep up with what’s happening with Missouri Rural Crisis Center at

http://missouristinks.blogspot…

"A Gentleman's Agreement"?: the new president search consulting contract

18 Wednesday Nov 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Aaron Podolefsky, contract, Hutchinson Consulting LLC, Ken Hutchinson, missouri, Richard Phillips, search, University of Central Missouri

This is the thirtieth post in an ongoing series as we file Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo 610) requests and investigate the non-renewal of the contract of University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky. Links to previous coverage are below the fold. BG and MB

We had previously asked for a copy of the contract approved by the Board of Governors during their October 29, 2009 meeting. Yesterday afternoon, we received it:

[….]

date: Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 1:11 PM

subject: Fwd: Re: Request for information – RSMo 610

[….]

On 11/9/09, I advised you that once all signatures were obtained on the contract with Ken Hutchinson of Hutchinson Consulting, LLC and the contract complete, a copy would be provided to you.  Attached is a copy of the contract.

[….]

Custodian of Records

The contract:

[….]

October 29, 2009

Mr. Richard Phillips

Chair, Board of Governors

University of Central Missouri

[….]

Re: Management Consulting Agreement

Dear Richard,

This will confirm that Hutchinson Consulting LLC (also referred to herein as “Consultant”) offers to represent University of Central Missouri (hereafter referred to as “UCM”) in a consulting engagement to identify and present competent persons as viable candidates for the position of President of University of Central Missouri. This aspect of the consulting engagement will be supported by baker and Associates of Atlanta, Georgia, a nationally recognized executive search firm and specifically Jerry H. Baker. All fees, costs and expenses associated with Baker and Associates and Jerry H. Baker shall be the sole responsibility of Consultant. Search advertisements will include baker and Associates and Hutchinson Consulting LLC. Hutchinson Consulting LLC will also serve as the general human resources consultant on matters related to the search, including the assessment of desired leadership qualities for the next president, and consulting assistance in developing the next president’s compensation program. Hutchinson Consulting LLC shall endeavor to accomplish those items on the attached Schedule A on or about the dates specified on Schedule A, with the understanding that UCM and Hutchinson Consulting may from time to time mutually agree to an adjustment both of items to be accomplished and dates.

Hutchinson Consulting shall also assist with the preparation of performance criteria and performance indicators for communication and evaluation purposes for the new president.

The professional fee for the engagement shall be Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00). It will be invoiced to you in three equal installments of Twenty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-Six Dollars and seventy-Seven Cents ($26,666.67). The initial retainer invoice will be submitted not later than five days after signing this agreement. The second invoice in the same amount of the first invoice will be submitted to you sixty-five days after signing this agreement. The last invoice in the same of the first invoice will be submitted to you immediately following UCM’s signing of an Employment Agreement with the new President. Consultant shall assist in the preparation and negotiation of any such Employment Agreement. Consultant is acting as an independent contractor and is not an employee of UCM. Accordingly, UCM shall not exercise control over the method by which Consultant shall perform such work as may be requested by UCM. Both parties acknowledge that Consultant is not an employee for state or federal tax purposes and therefore not subject to tax withholding and any and all associated taxes are the sole responsibility of Consultant.

[page]

In addition to the professional fee, Hutchinson Consulting will bill direct expenses of the assignment on an out-of-pocket basis. These expenses include materials and services, report preparation, reproduction and delivery services, as well as travel (coach airfare only) and interviewing expenses. We make every effort to hold reimbursable expenses to a minimum, and will ask your approval prior to incurring major costs and prior to incurring an individual direct expense in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and cumulative direct expenses in excess of fifteen thousand ($15,000.00).

We are committed to the goal of equal employment opportunity as established by various federal and state laws and regulations and as stated in UCM’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. As such, we will not discriminate against any individual for employment because of the protected categories in said Equal Employment Opportunity Program.

Because many candidates will expect their candidacy to remain confidential, we ask UCM to refrain from any unauthorized, indiscriminate reference inquiries about candidates. When appropriate, we will inform candidates that an offer may be contingent upon successful completion of reference checks or any other conditions of employment required by UCM. At that time, references will be checked.

At the direction of the Board of Governors, Hutchinson Consulting or Baker and Associates will conduct reference checks on the final candidates, an analysis that will include both telephone reference checks and requesting and receiving written letters of reference.

As you direct, we will provide you and the committee with a status report of all the individuals involved in your search.

We will not initiate contact or otherwise recruit the candidate chosen for President of UCM for a minimum of five years, unless permission is given by the President of the Board of Governors. UCM may terminate this management Consulting Agreement at any time for any reason or for no reason and any and all incurred payments, costs and expenses shall be paid to Consultant up to the date of termination.

If you have any questions regarding our procedures or the terms and conditions outlined in this confirmation letter, please call me. If you are in agreement with these arrangements as stated, please sign both copies of the Consulting Agreement where indicated. Retain the “Client Copy” for your records and forward the “Consultant Copy” to my office.

I look forward to and am delighted to establish this relationship with UCM.

Sincerely,

s/

R. Kenneth Hutchinson

President, Hutchinson Consulting LLC

RKH/clc

Enclosures

[page]

SCHEDULE A

Hutchinson Consulting LLC

And

University of Central Missouri

2010 Presidential Search Timeline

(Timeline can be compressed if desired by the Board of Governors)

November 2009-December 2009

Appoint search consultant

After interviewing members of the Board of Governors (members of the Board of Governors are also referred to herein as the Search Committee or Presidential Search Committee), draft statement of desired leadership qualities for Board approval and possible circulation to UCM constituencies.

Draft and place advertising that incorporates desired leadership credentials.

Approve composition of Search Advisory Committee to the Board of Governors. Optional)

January 2010

Advertising appears for two consecutive weeks.

Search announcement letter is mailed to Governor, State Senator, State Representatives and key friends of UCM.

Search brochure and candidate nomination forms are printed and distributed. (Optional and may be accomplished with UCM facilities)

Search web site is assembled and made public. (Optional and may be accomplished with UCM facilities)

Nominations for members of the Search Advisory Committee are submitted to the Serach Committee Chair.

President Search Forums are scheduled and advertised: Warrensburg, greater Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan areas, select other areas in the UCM catchment area
. (Optional)

February 2010

Conduct Search Forums.

Actively solicit nominations.

Provide agenda to Board of Governors prior to meeting.

Search Committee Chair sends letter to Advisory Committee nominees inviting them to serve on committee.

Appoint Search Advisory Committee and Chair.

[page]

Schedule Search Advisory Committee meeting with Chair of the Presidential Search Committee to charge the committee and provide other search information as appropriate.

March-April 2010

Search Committee meeting with Search Consultant

Report on diversity of candidates

Distill list of candidates

Determine dates for candidate interviews.

Telephone the semifinalists to determine continuing interest and request references.

Conduct reference checks.

Determine off-campus interview site and make appropriate arrangements.

Schedule candidate interviews.

Arrange lodging, meals and travel for search committee and candidates.

Consultant guides Search Committee through preparing interview questions and formatting interview sessions.

Search Advisory Committee schedules meeting to draft interview questions and format interview sessions under guidance of the Consultant.

May-June 2010

Interview semi-finalists.

Distill pool to three to five finalists.

Telephone to determine continued interest and to advise of intensified background checks.

Schedule candidate interviews, as appropriate.

Arrange lodging, meals and travel in preparation of finalist interviews.

Complete reference checks.

Presidential Search Committee receives individual reports of committee members of the Search Advisory Committee.

Board of Governors negotiates terms with finalists.

Board of Governors appoints and announces new president.

New President Appointee and Spouse (if applicable) make campus tour for introductions.

[page]

October 29, 2009

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

The Board of Governors of University of Central Missouri

President, University of Central Missouri

Accepted By:

Signature: s/

Name: Richard Phillips

Title: Chair of University of Central Missouri Board of Governors

Date Signed: 11-16-09

CLIENT COPY

[CONSULTANT COPY also provided]

You can read a copy of the original document here (pdf).

I think I know ten people who won’t invited to be on the “Search Advisory Committee”.

Interesting. It appears that presidential candidates will likely be invited to campus for interviews after the end of the semester – when the majority of students and faculty will be elsewhere. Well, at least the candidates can be given a tour of the luxury boxes. Maybe they can get answers to our questions without paying $501.86.

Our previous coverage:

Three steps behind, and to the right (January 25, 2008)

Three steps behind, and to the right, part 2 – a microcosm of our universe (September 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? (October 15, 2009) (transcript of a portion of the live radio broadcast)

It wasn’t just about a tree (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: let’s not get cut out of the will (October 22, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: $87.75 will get you one sheet of paper (October 23, 2009)



“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: They’re not playing hardball, they’re playing cat and mouse
 (October 23, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a cola and some scoreboards (October 24, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a few more pieces of the puzzle? (October 28, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your silence means consent (October 29, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: let’s not get cut out of the will, part 2 (October 30, 2009)

Old media irony impairment (October 30, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio, part 2 (October 31, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: where everybody knows your name (October 31, 2009)

Methinks that someone is paying attention! (November 2, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Bond, Stadium Bond (November 4, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: where everybody knows your name, part 2 (November 4, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: I heard it on the radio, part 3 (November 5, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: nothing succeeds like success (November 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your Friday news dump (November 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: nothing exceeds like excess (November 7, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a grade for Accounting 101 (November 7, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there ought to be a law (November 8, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there’s gotta be a contract around here somewhere (November 9, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there ought to be a law, part 2 (November 10, 20
09)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Garbo speaks! (November 12, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle (November 13, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? Follow the money and it reveals the timeline (November 14, 2009)

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