Congress Intervenes on Behalf of Teacher ‘Duped’ by AEA
Forced political donations at the center of controversy
Birmingham, AL – On April 4, 2012, Rep. Darrell Issa, Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent AEA President Dot Strickland a letter informing her of the Committee’s investigation regarding allegations made by an AEA “member in good standing” regarding the AEA’s forced contributions of union members to political action committees.
The AEA and affiliated NEA – both teacher unions – claim to support children, protect teachers, and save schools, but according to testimony given by an Alabama public school teacher to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the AEA mandated that their members make “nonnegotiable” contributions to politicians like Barack Obama rather than just to Alabama’s schools.
“We have known for a long time that there is a disconnect between union bosses and union members,” stated Bill Armistead, Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. “This investigation will allow the issue to come to light.
“It is astonishing that this organization of underhanded-bullies would exploit the field of childhood education as a guise to funnel money towards politicians who take their marching orders from unions like the AEA,” continued Armistead. “This is reminiscent of the same tactics ACORN used to raise money for their favorite ‘Community Organizer’ – Barack Obama.”
Claire Waites, a science teacher in Baldwin County Public Schools, testified that on two separate occasions she was compelled to contribute her hard-earned money to a Political Action Committee misleadingly labeled “The Children’s Fund.” NEA President Reg Weaver later revealed that “The Children’s Fund” raised a large amount of money that would go to support Democrat politicians including John Kerry.
According to Waites, “In the beginning I was puzzled by the fact we had to make two different payments and that neither of the payments were tax deductible. After all, it was a charity or so I thought at the time.” Waites continued, “I procrastinated [paying] for several days because my money was very tight… I eventually donated the money with misgivings…”
Waites testified, “These who were supposed to be my people duped me into donating to a candidate I was voting against.”
In 2008, portions of Waites’s travel money were, without her consent, donated to support the campaign of then Senator Barack Obama. When Waites attempted to have her money refunded, several officials denied her request.
Rep. Issa’s letter to the AEA references a 2010 survey that found “69 percent of private and public union workers think that union leaders should stop spending union dues on politics, and 66 percent believe that it is unreasonable that such spending can occur without their consent.”
Armistead said, “The AEA chooses to remain devoted to their historic support of Democratic candidates. In fact, the AEA spent substantial resources, derived from teacher contributions, in 2011 fighting a bill that would ban their use of automatic payroll deductions of public employees to fill their political coffers.
“A federal investigation into political activities of the AEA and potential violations of FEC regulations should be a sign to AEA members and all Alabamians that the AEA is a typical special interest that is more concerned with wielding political clout than improving the lives of children and educators.
“Now more than ever, Alabamians should realize the difference between our Republican legislators who are willing to support innovative reform that will lift Alabama schools up from the bottom and the stuck in the mud, status quo Democrats beholden to the AEA and their forced, potentially illegal campaign contributions,” concluded Armistead.
A link to the letter can be found here.
A link to the testimony of Claire Waites can be found here.
More information regarding the hearing and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee can be found here.
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For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Contact: Shana Kluck