SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : I Will Continue to Continue, to Pretend....
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Sully- who wrote (3199)7/9/2004 5:31:49 PM
From: Sully-   of 35834
 
Teachers vs. Education

<font size=4>The National Education Association, America's largest union, employs 1,800 political operatives at a cost of over $2 million a year. But the NEA nonetheless claims in its IRS filings that it doesn't spend a dime of the dues it collects on politics. The reason is simple: As a tax-exempt organization, it would owe tax payments on revenues that it spends on politics. The IRS has finally decided to audit the NEA's suspect claims.

If the IRS wants a crash course in how unions blatantly violate restrictions on political activity, the agency should go to Washington State. The NEA affiliate there has been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars for violating state campaign laws, most notably a "paycheck protection" law that requires unions to seek prior permission from their members before spending their dues on politics.

The Washington Education Association continues to use teacher dues for politics. This year alone it is suing the state to spend more money on public schools and putting a referendum on the November ballot to block the creation of charter schools.

But the union may have gone too far in the eyes of many of its own members this month<font size=3> when it refused to endorse John Davis, a former public school superintendent who is running in a September Democratic primary for state senate. Mr. Davis was given the thumbs-down solely because he supports charter schools. The teacher union candidate is Paul Waadevig, who ran for office as a Republican in 2002 but has since switched parties and opposes charter schools.

Mr. Davis's supporters complain the teacher union is turning its back on someone with 33 years of experience in public education, but they shouldn't be surprised. Mr. Davis' s experience taught him that the public schools need real reform, and that's something the WEA can't and won't abide.

John Fund, Wall Street Journal, Political Journal
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News