GOP bill draws teachers' anger

Orlando Sentinel ^

[Cincinatus' Wife]

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's teachers union is getting a taste of political payback.

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."

The GOP-dominated Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee on Tuesday approved Fasano's proposal (SB 1652) to limit payroll deductions only for the cost of collective bargaining and grievance adjustment. The committee split along party lines, with six Republicans supporting the measure and three Democrats opposing it.

"This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote. "We voted to support candidates who were chosen based on their educational positions. "

[Cincinatus' Wife]

What the unions would really like to see.

Boston Globe: Cuba's lessons on caring for children ***But the notion that children and education are of primary concern to Cuba was said often enough by enough people within and outside the government that it made us think that Boston, and indeed the United States, could learn much from this island of scarce resources. If Cuba, where per capita GDP hovers at $1,700, has universal preschool, isn't that something the wealthiest country in the world could do for its children and families?

……Our relations with Cuba will inevitably be normalized in due course, and we, too, will find economic opportunities in this well-educated, healthy society of 11 million. Yet the question is, will Cuba be able to maintain its commitment to children, their education, and their health as this economic activity builds and a growing dollar economy, existing side by side with a peso economy, creates disparities in wealth?

Let's hope it can and that as more Americans visit Cuba's shores, we can learn something from the Cubans - about how to raise our kids here, how to instill in them self-respect and cultural pride, and how to give all of them a chance to be happy, creative, and productive adults.***

[sphinx]

Take away union dues politicking and the Democrat Party would shrivel. One more small-but-current example: here in D.C. -- perhaps elsewhere as well, but I don't know about that -- there has a recent radio ad campaign featuring Sandra Feldman of the AFT. The ad says America has a serious healthcare crisis, that "we don't have the answers to all the tough questions," but that America surely can't afford a tax cut before everybody gets health insurance.

Now, we can debate health care policy until the cows come home. The point is, this was a pure anti-tax cut ad -- remember, Sandra gives no opinion on what to do about health care -- and I'd bet the farm it was paid for by union dues, not union PAC money (which would be ok because PAC money consists of voluntary contributions). Par for the course.

[Grit]

The union spent about $2 million out of its $17 million budget on the campaign.

"The state will be spending money to defend this bill if it becomes law and that's money that could well be put into education instead," [Sen. Les Miller, D-Tampa] said.

Physician, heal thyself.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes, I've heard that ad running in the Maryland/D.C. area.

More on D.C. teachers' union.

Union Local Loses Control Of Operations*** Appalled by official reports of mink coats, Tiffany silver, and a Bahamas vacation bought with at least $5 million in dues allegedly embezzled from Washington teachers by local union leaders, the American Federation of Teachers took over its affiliate in the nation's capital last week. ***

[OBone]

I'd bet the farm it was paid for by union dues, not union PAC money

With the current scandal in the use of union funds it's a wonder they had any money to spend. It was a virtual honeypot for political hacks.

OB

[kcvl]

I got an email back from Mike...

My email said,

Subject: Paycheck protection...

"Thank you! Hang in there and keep these teacher's unions honest."

His email said,

"Thanks, XXXXXX.

God bless.

Mike


They need some moral support!


Bill Sponsor
SEN. MIKE FASANO, R-NEW PORT RICHEY
E-mail: fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5062 Statewide Phone: 1.800.948.5885

[The Wizard]

if the teachers hate the bill it's good for the country

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Kuksool]

{Sen. Les Miller, D-Tampa, called the bill discriminatory and likened it to the bias he has felt as a black man. }

Typical RAT playbook tactics. When all else fails, they play the race card.

[ImpBill]

Excellent. Get unions out of the pac game. If members wish to endorse or donate money to a candidate, no one is stopping them. What the shrew at the FEA doesn't like is that she can no longer dictate, steal, and donate other peoples money to the DemocRATs.

[trebb]

"This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote. "We voted to support candidates who were chosen based on their educational positions. "

Interpretation: "We like getting paid for being incompetent and turning your children's education into a freakin' joke."

[mongrel]

It's also telling her she can't force teachers who disagree with her politically to fund her mouth. So basically she's the one advocating the repression of free speech. She's arguing for the state to allow her to have compulsory funding of her speech.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

*** It's also telling her she can't force teachers who disagree with her politically to fund her mouth. So basically she's the one advocating the repression of free speech. She's arguing for the state to allow her to have compulsory funding of her speech.***

Bump!

[Tom Bombadil]

"We voted to support candidates who were chosen based on their educational positions.

Using extorted money.

[Aquinasfan]

"This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote.

It's for the children.

“When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”

Al Shanker
Former President
American Federation of Teachers

[glory]

This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote. "We voted to support candidates who were chosen based on their educational positions. ">>

Big wah!
Teachers unions should not be involved in politics imo. If an individual inside of the union wishes to support a candidate with their own $$, fine. Hey Maureen, how about you at least give your members a choice of where that portion of their dollars will go! If a teacher who wishes to vote republican wants to do so, their funds should be alloted towards that--if they wish not to be involved in politics at all, they should be allowed to opt out that portion or donate it to a charity of their choice. My guess is that Ms. Maureen would like to "shut up" those voices in her union who support republican candidates--she's the usual liberal hypocrit.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

***It's for the children.

“When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.”***

Spot on!

[Aquinasfan]

I will bet the farm that this rogue's gallery of leftist vermin sent/sends all their kids to private school. As do an astonishing number of public school teachers in the rest of the US.

The national average is twice the rate of parents in general.

[Aquinasfan]

Let's hope it can and that as more Americans visit Cuba's shores, we can learn something from the Cubans - about how to raise our kids here

As I sit here laughing I'm overwhelmed with the desire to punch whoever said this in the mouth.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

***For the sake of our students and their teachers, I sincerely hope the legislators will listen to the voters. All these parts are dependent on the other. We can't build half a house. Florida's voters are expecting so much more.*** These are the prepared remarks delivered by FEA President Maureen Dinnen at the start of her February 26 news conference:

I wish voters understood where their tax dollars are going and NOT going.