This is all nice and well, but it doesn't actually address the inherent untrustworthiness of a state-associated (and known to be penetrated) organization.
The entire point of the competition is for the state to select a state standard, so "state-associated" is not the smoking gun people suggest it is. If you don't care about state standards, hey, I'm right there with you. But: they obviously exist.
Right, I guess I'm asking why anyone puts up with the idea of a state standard to begin with when it only benefits the state.
Why not ask Bernstein why he's participating in a program to generate one?