Common Core: Smear campaign begins

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Smith cast her concerns in general terms — a posting on Facebook and a telephone interview — and did not offer any documentation.

However, she said unnamed parties are investigating whether employees of the state Department of Education acted improperly.

“There is concern about John White and possibly others that have had lodging and travel paid for by certain groups that may have been eligible to get contracts from us,” Smith said in an interview.

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After she lost a 2011 run for the state Senate, Jindal named Smith as deputy secretary for the state Department of Revenue, and she also served as acting secretary for a time.

She is now part-time liaison for legislative affairs at the agency.

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White said that, on three occasions as superintendent, he delivered speeches or made presentations at gatherings hosted by Teach for America and that the group then made a donation to the state for travel costs.

He said such action “is explicitly allowed under the Code of Governmental Ethics.”

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