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"why nearly 92 percent of the NEA's soft-money contributions went to the Democratic Party during the 2001-02 cycle; why 91 percent of its political action committee donations went to Democrats; and why 100 percent of its independent expenditures were on behalf of Democratic senatorial candidates. The NEA's only "special interests" are itself and the Democratic Party."

It will remain this way until teachers force the local, state and national "associations" to change. I am an agency fee payer. Supposedly, the percentage of my dues which are "political" are rebated to me. If 65% of teachers are other than democrat and they all demanded their dues back I can assure you things would change.

However, it isn't just political. Many teachers see the dems as the party which will give them higher salaries and benefits. They have no qualms about giving dems their money to get the bennies. One teacher even told me "it's not about who you vote for." In a way I could see his point though I couldn't agree. As the system now stands the way a teacher gets a raise is strictly political. Teachers can't walk into the principals office and ask for a raise. And while many think teachers are overpaid (I would agree we are well paid, I don't complain), they are like anyone else with a family. They'd like to get more. Who with a mortgage wouldn't?

I prefer not to fund politicians who don't agree with my views and have no problem opting out of the union.

Thank you for the informative post.

After bankrolling the unsuccessful gubernatorial bid of Democrat Bill McBride last year, the Florida Education Association is coming under attack by some Republican legislators because dues paid by its members help run political campaigns.

"I do not oppose the choice of people belonging to unions," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "But teachers came to me with complaints of their money being spent to support candidates they didn't support." - " Florida: GOP bill draws teachers' anger" (LINK in Post #1)