New financial disclosures further uncover the political force of the country’s two biggest teachers unions. Somewhere in the range of 2020 and 2021, the National Education Association gave more than $8 million dollars to liberal, dark money groups like the State Innovation Exchange, Strategic Victory Fund, and State Engagement Fund. The last option got more than $6.5 million and exists under the umbrella of the Democracy Alliance, which was depicted by Politico in 2014 as, “The Left’s Secret Club.” According to OpenSecrets.org, donations from the two associations have for some time been on the ascent and developed from $4.3 million out of 2004 to more than $32 million of every 2016.
The partisan influence is not limited to issues that affect the classroom. In October, AFT President, Randi Weingarten issued a statement on President Biden’s infrastructure and spending bills, “Congress must move forward and pass the Build Back Better Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and lead our country forward in this critical moment.”
In 2020, while parents were plagued by school closures and Congress carved out its Coronavirus Relief Package, the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers increased their contributions to Democrats and liberal groups totaling more than $65 million.
Amidst a rapidly mobilizing movement of frustrated parents in Virginia, Weingarten unsuccessfully campaigned for former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe.
The data also shows that in preparation of the 2022 midterms the two teachers unions have so far provided $1.3 million to Democrats and $2,500 to Republicans.
Both unions disclosed a combined contribution of $600,000 toward McAuliffe’s campaign.
News Summary:
- New ‘Dark Money’ Financial Disclosures Reveal Political Perspective and Power of Teacher Unions
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