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| The Unions' Role in the Mid-term Elections |
| posted by: Alix | October 05, 2010, 01:39 PM |
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We are about a month away from the November mid-term elections and the coverage is heating up. It's clear that teachers' unions are playing a strong role in state elections this fall, providing candidates all over the country with campaign support, endorsements, and most importantly, millions and millions of dollars in campaign contributions. Turn on any news outlet and you'll hear that Republicans are expected to make major gains this fall. Despite this climate and the broad political leanings of their members, the teachers' unions campaign contributions have been overwhelmingly flowing toward Democrats. The unions have resisted the reform-minded education agenda of the Obama administration for the past two years; however, at the state level, Democrats have been receiving almost unconditional support. According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the NEA and AFT have donated a combined $8.2 million to Democratic candidates and a meager $938,000 to Republicans in the current 2010 election cycle alone. This comes as no surprise if you've seen the pattern of the unions' support of partisan politics. The NEA was the largest single provider of political money at both the state and federal level during the past 2007-2008 election cycle, contributing a combined $56.5 million, according to data provided by the Center for Responsible Politics. Notably, the money is not based on the NEA itself, rather their political action committees. While union member educators have a variety of political leanings and opinions, it's shocking to think that their views are not accurately being represented. Does the average union member even know that they are supporting these candidates and causes? It should be important to know where your money is going, and members of AAE should take comfort in knowing we do not support partisan politics or take positions unrelated to education. Most importantly, we actually survey our members in order to form these positions. What are your thoughts about the mid-term elections and what effect will they have on education? Comment below.
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written by Sue, via Facebook, October 07, 2010
A waste of money - it should go for research into best teaching practices.
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written by Linda, via Facebook, October 07, 2010
I wonder if teacher members know who/what they're supporting. "At the state level . . . according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the NEA and AFT have donated a combined $8.2 million to Democratic candidates." "The NEA was the largest single provider of political money at both the state and federal level during the past 2007-2008 election cycle, contributing a combined $56.5 million, according to data provided by the Center for Responsible Politics."
And how much it's costing them.
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