Plunderbund has an article detailing the failings of White Hat Management as a charter school management company, and in light of the news of the GOP plan to privatize public education, the political crosswinds that created the plan
The goal of this budget seems pretty obvious. White Hat has a problem with their schools and boards and sponsors so the legislature just removes them from the picture, allowing White Hat to drirectly start up schools as for-profit companies, eliminating the hassle of oversight. White Hat has a problem with people questioning how they use public funds provided by the state, so the legislature just makes those funds private as soon as they are delivered to White Hat.
Some of the language in this budget is so specifically directly at helping White Hat that it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Brennan’s lawyers write it themselves. Whether it’s true or not, Ohio’s GOP politicians appear to be paying back one of their largest campaign donors with millions of state dollars while completely disregarding the educational needs of thousands of Ohio’s students.
The whole article is worth a read.
Just to highlight the scope of Brennan's political largese, here is a list of the almost $1.6 million in political campaign contributions made by some of the main players involved with White Hat Management since 2000.
| Cycle | Amount | Contributor Name | Recipient Name | |
| 2010 | $50,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2010 | $50,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2010 | $30,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE FUND | |
| 2010 | $30,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE FUND | |
| 2010 | $30,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE FUND | |
| 2010 | $25,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2010 | $25,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2010 | $17,075 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2010 | $17,075 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2010 | $17,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CMTE | |
| 2010 | $17,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2010 | $17,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2010 | $17,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CMTE | |
| 2010 | $11,396 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | MANDEL, JOSH | |
| 2010 | $11,396 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | KASICH, JOHN & TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2010 | $11,395 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | KASICH, JOHN & TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2010 | $11,395 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2010 | $11,395 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | KASICH, JOHN & TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2010 | $11,350 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | WAGONER, MARK | |
| 2010 | $11,350 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | NIEHAUS, TOM | |
| 2010 | $11,350 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | FABER, KEITH | |
| 2010 | $11,350 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | NIEHAUS, TOM | |
| 2010 | $11,300 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2010 | $11,300 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | MANDEL, JOSH | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | DEWINE, MIKE | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | MORGAN, SETH | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BATCHELDER, WILLIAM G | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | BATCHELDER, WILLIAM G | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | AMSTUTZ, RON | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HUFFMAN, MATT | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BATCHELDER, WILLIAM G | |
| 2010 | $11,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | AMSTUTZ, RON | |
| 2010 | $6,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | YOST, DAVID A | |
| 2010 | $5,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BACON, KEVIN | |
| 2010 | $5,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | YOST, DAVID A | |
| 2010 | $4,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE FUND | |
| 2010 | $3,125 | MANNA, ANTHONY | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE FUND | |
| 2010 | $250 | WEBER III, JOSEPH R | MANDEL, JOSH | |
| 2010 | $250 | RICE, MARK A | MANDEL, JOSH | |
| 2010 | $250 | MESSER JR, QUENTIN | MANDEL, JOSH | |
| 2010 | $250 | WEBER III, JOSEPH R | LAROSE, FRANK | |
| 2010 | $100 | MESSER JR, QUENTIN | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2008 | $100,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2008 | $100,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2008 | $100,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2008 | $100,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2008 | $50,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2008 | $50,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - EXECUTIVE CMTE | |
| 2008 | $30,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE FUND | |
| 2008 | $25,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L MR | Republican National Cmte | |
| 2008 | $16,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2008 | $16,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2008 | $16,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2008 | $16,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2008 | $15,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CMTE | |
| 2008 | $12,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | OHIO HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN CMTE | |
| 2008 | $10,650 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HARRIS, BILL | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BACON, KEVIN | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | BATCHELDER, WILLIAM | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | BATCHELDER, WILLIAM | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BATCHELDER, WILLIAM | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | COLEY, BILL | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | DOLAN, MATTHEW | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HOTTINGER, JAY | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | DOLAN, MATTHEW | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | PATTON, THOMAS | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | NIEHAUS, TOM | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | CAREY JR, JOHN A | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2008 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | JONES, SHANNON | |
| 2008 | $5,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HITE, CLIFFORD | |
| 2008 | $5,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | GINTER, TIM | |
| 2008 | $5,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HOTTINGER, JAY | |
| 2008 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | SCHLICHTER, JOHN | |
| 2008 | $2,300 | HARRISON, E D MS | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2008 | $2,300 | BRENNAN, ANN | Lamar Alexander (R) | |
| 2008 | $2,300 | BRENNAN, DAVID | Lamar Alexander (R) | |
| 2008 | $2,300 | BRENNEN, NANCY J | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2008 | $2,300 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | James D Jordan (R) | |
| 2008 | $1,300 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2008 | $1,000 | HARRISON, E D MS | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2008 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2008 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | TIFFANY, TOM | |
| 2008 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | DARLING, ALBERTA | |
| 2008 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | COUGHLIN, KEVIN | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | EGELHOFF, JO | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | DAVIS, BRETT | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | PETROWSKI, JERRY J | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | MURSAU, JEFFREY L | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | NERISON, LEE | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HINES, J A | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HELLMAN, DAN | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | NERISON, LEE | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HONADEL, MARK | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | TOWNS, DEBI | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | RIPP, KEITH | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | VAN ROY, KARL | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | FRISKE, DON | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | MURTHA, JOHN | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | WILLIAMS, MARY | |
| 2008 | $500 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | DOCKERY, PAULA | |
| 2008 | $400 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | HUEBSCH, MIKE | |
| 2008 | $200 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2008 | $200 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | VOS, ROBIN J | |
| 2008 | $200 | BRENNAN, ANN AMER | COLE, RANDY | |
| 2006 | $15,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | REPUBLICAN SENATE CAMPAIGN CMTE OF OHIO | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, ANN | GREEN, MARK A (G) | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | CAREY JR, JOHN A | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HUSTED, JON | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVE | GREEN, MARK A (G) | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | PETERSON, JON | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HARTMANN, GREG | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BRADLEY, JENNETTE B | |
| 2006 | $10,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | LYNCH, DAVID | |
| 2006 | $7,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | CAREY JR, JOHN A | |
| 2006 | $5,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | TAYLOR, MARY | |
| 2006 | $5,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | SEITZ, BILL | |
| 2006 | $4,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | PETERSON, JON | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | LUTHER, BRANT | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | BACON, KEVIN | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | MARTIN, EARL J | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | STIVERS, STEVE | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | CATES, GARY | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | NIEHAUS, TOM | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HOPPEL, JIM | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | STIVERS, STEVE | |
| 2006 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HAYES, WILLIAM C | |
| 2006 | $2,100 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | Craig Foltin (R) | |
| 2006 | $2,100 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | Craig Foltin (R) | |
| 2006 | $2,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | PATTON, THOMAS F | |
| 2006 | $2,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | MARTIN, EARL J | |
| 2006 | $2,000 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | WEBSTER, SHAWN N | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | HAGAN, JOHN P | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | SETZER, ARLENE J | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | CALVERT, CHARLES E | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | NIEHAUS, TOM | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | CATES, GARY | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | PADGETT, JOY | |
| 2004 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | PETRO, JIM | |
| 2004 | $2,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY J MRS | George W Bush (R) | |
| 2004 | $2,000 | BRENNAN, ANN A MRS | George W Bush (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY | Steven C LaTourette (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY | Mike DeWine (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY | Bill McCollum (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | KROHN, MARK E MR | George W Bush (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | MORRIS, JOHN C MR | George W Bush (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY J | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2004 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY J | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2004 | $500 | BRENNAN, DAVID | SPADY, FAWN | |
| 2002 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | RAUSSEN, JAMES | |
| 2002 | $2,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | RAUSSEN, JAMES | |
| 2002 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY J | George V Voinovich (R) | |
| 2002 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY | Mike DeWine (R) | |
| 2000 | $1,500 | BRENNAN, DAVID L | GARDNER, RANDALL | |
| 2000 | $1,000 | BRENNAN, NANCY J | George V Voinovich (R) | |
Data taken from www.transparencydata.com.