"Witness the future if national healthcare is enacted."
Exactly! Just like our current education system. Administrators and Superintendents get millions in pay, drivers, pensions and expense budgets: teachers buy extra crayons out of their own pay.
This is the paradigm teachers union looting case:
Driver paid $97,500 from teachers union
By Arlo Wagner THE WASHINGTON TIMES July 7, 2005
http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050706-100228-2349r.htm
The chauffeur of the former president of the Washington Teachers Union testified yesterday in the $4.6 million embezzlement trial that he earned $97,500 annually plus other benefits, but did not say the compensation was in exchange for his cashing checks and concealing money for union officials.
Leroy Holmes said that in addition to the salary, he received free health insurance, a cell phone, insurance on his two cars and pickup truck, a $1,875 Christmas bonus, a down payment for a 2001 Cadillac DeVille and half of the monthly $800 payments. When asked by U.S. Assistant Attorney Jeannie Rhee whether he ever questioned the benefits, Holmes replied: "Why should I? It was good."
Holmes has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder funds. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if prosecutors do not ask that his sentence be reduced because of the testimony. Holmes will resume testifying today against former union treasurer James O. Baxter II, 50; former office manager Gwendolyn Hemphill, 63; and former accountant James A. Goosby Jr., 56.
Mr. Baxter and Mrs. Hemphill are accused of embezzling millions of dollars. Mr. Goosby is accused of helping hide the thefts by filing false financial reports.
In addition to driving union President Barbara A. Bullock on official business, Holmes took officials on lavish shopping sprees that were financed with the union dues of teachers, prosecutors say. Bullock pleaded guilty and is serving nine years in prison.
Holmes also cashed checks for Mr. Baxter and Mrs. Hemphill. He said the largest check was for $20,000. The indictment states that $1.4 million in checks were cashed by Holmes. Holmes said Mr. Goosby prepared his income-tax returns in a way that would protect against an audit of union finances.
Also testifying yesterday was John Traina, a D.C. schoolteacher for 32 years who later became a member of the union's executive board, then the board of trustees. He said that the board and the trustees relied on Mr. Baxter to oversee the union finances, but that the board and the trustees were never given details.
Mr. Traina said that when Mr. Baxter was asked about details, he might not report or would give a uninformative answer. For example, he said, members heard that the union was not paying some bills, but at the next meeting, Mr. Baxter said all the bills were paid.