Teachers union pushes political spending bill

Seattle Times ^ | 2-8-07 | Ralph Thomas

[truth49]

OLYMPIA -- The state's largest teachers union is pushing legislation that would, in effect, allow unions to spend fees paid by nonmembers on political campaigns without first getting permission.

The bills, drafted by the Washington Education Association (WEA) and other labor groups, were introduced Wednesday in the House and Senate by a handful of Democratic lawmakers.

Union leaders say they are merely trying to clarify a confusing statute.

But critics said the union is attempting an end-run on the U.S. Supreme Court, which is currently reviewing the constitutionality of a Washington law that required unions to get permission before spending nonmember fees on political causes.

The WEA has 80,000 members statewide and represents more than 3,000 teachers who chose to not join the union. State law allows the union to impose "agency fees" -- in lieu of dues -- on nonmember teachers.

Federal courts have ruled in the past that nonmembers who object to having a portion of their fee used for political purposes can request rebates from the union.

[David Isaac]

Whom, besides a flaming %@#* liberal would argue that spending some one else's money, who does not wish it spent in that manner, is their constitutionally-protected free speech. The arrogance of these @$$wipes is often beyond belief.

[sionnsar]

WA ping request

[EQAndyBuzz]

"OLYMPIA -- The state's largest teachers union is pushing legislation that would, in effect, allow unions to spend fees paid by nonmembers on political campaigns without first getting permission. "

So, the union wants to take my money, even though I am not in the union and spend it on causes that I do not support?

And no one in Washington sees this?

[Mack the knife]

At the bottom of the article ... "The union estimates it spends about a quarter of its dues and fees each year on expenses not related to collective bargaining, including political activities. Since the fees paid by nonmembers make up a much smaller percentage than that, the WEA has argued all along that it doesn't spend nonmember fees on politics."

---

So ... they received $10,000,000, of which $2,000,000 came from nonmembers ... and spent $2,5000,000 on politics. Since the $2Mil from nonmembers is less than the $2.5Mil they spent on politics, none of the nonmembers funds were spent on politics.

What was that again???????????

Is this arguement the result of the stupidity of the teachers, the mendacity of their lawyers, or the arrogance of their thug union leaders?

[BADROTOFINGER]

WA State Ping...JFK