Teachers Unions Give Broadly

By ALICIA MUNDY (WSJ)

What do the American Ireland Fund, the Rev. Al Sharpton and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network have in common?

All have received some of the more than $330 million that America's two largest teachers unions spent in the past five years on outside causes, political campaigns, lobbying and issue education.

The contributions—totaling more than $200 million from the National Education Association and more than $130 million from the American Federation of Teachers—were disclosed in annual reports that unions file with the Labor Department detailing their spending on political activities and advocacy work, as well as separate political-action-committee filings.

Susan Lemmo, an NEA member of 22 years from Pennsylvania, said, "As a parent and a teacher, I care about social-justice issues."

Not all teachers agree with some of the political stances. A handful of former and current NEA members who picketed last week's convention in Washington said union donations to groups that support abortion rights and gay-and-lesbian rights violate their faith. They have asked for religious "accommodation" that steers their dues to other charitable organizations, said Judy Bruns, a former teacher from Ohio who had been active in the NEA.

Both unions said they partner with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual groups on anti-bullying efforts in schools and equality issues.

The unions also gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to groups that lobbied for the Obama health-overhaul law. In addition, the now-defunct voter-outreach group Acorn received nearly $400,000 from the NEA, which gave America Votes, another liberal organization,$1.7 million. Both unions gave to the Tides Center, another progressive organization.

Mr. Sharpton's civil-rights group, the National Action Network, received $250,000 in total from the two unions. Mr. Sharpton's office didn't respond to requests for comment on how the money was used.

The NEA was the top combined state and federal contributor to 2008 races, with some $45 million, more than 90% of which went to Democratic campaigns, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan election-finance watchdog. But the teachers and their supporters suffered a setback in Wisconsin in May when they failed to help unseat Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who had mounted an offensive against public-employee unions.

—Tom McGinty and Daniel Lippman contributed to this article.
Write to Alicia Mundy at alicia.mundy@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405270...

Have I ever mentioned that I blame Government Schools for the decline of America?

Unions using wages paid by state taxpayers giving donations to politicians who in turn control the wages given to teachers. How is any of this legal? Who's brainiac idea was it that enables public employees, paid by taxpayers, to make political contributions, directly or indirectly, to the very people who control their wages and benefits?

The greatest portion of any State budget is education, the pensuons are unfunded nationwide just under a trillion dollars. We have the worst test scores in the world.

Bust up the public sector teachers union.

Susan wrote:

Unions using wages paid by state taxpayers giving donations to politicians who in turn control the wages given to teachers. How is any of this legal? Who's brainiac idea was it that enables public employees, paid by taxpayers, to make political contributions, directly or indirectly, to the very people who control their wages and benefits?

Funny, you "pretend" the wages age a gift and it isn't their money for EDUCATED people to use as they see fit... Of course in your world they're buying influence, but the Koch Brothers aren't, right ??? Horrible teachers, educating YOUR kids, huh ??? LMAOROTDU~!

Amused Slew wrote:

<quoted text>Funny, you "pretend" the wages age a gift and it isn't their money for EDUCATED people to use as they see fit... Of course in your world they're buying influence, but the Koch Brothers aren't, right ??? Horrible teachers, educating YOUR kids, huh ??? LMAOROTDU~!

Psychotic,

Good morning....Please wait for your mjedications to kick in before you begin your day of broadcasted ignorance.
(Let the adults talk before you throw your tantrums and holler "notice me"!)

mjedications

Poor dishonest, cowardly drunk...You have my sympathies.... Down to spamming lies and you were once "human"...

Amused Slew wrote:

mjedications
Poor dishonest, cowardly drunk...You have my sympathies.... Down to spamming lies and you were once "human"...

You itching to get stomped?

Amused Slew wrote:

mjedications
Poor dishonest, cowardly drunk...You have my sympathies.... Down to spamming lies and you were once "human"...

What is a "spamming lie"?

We all know what a lie is, we read your abusive distortions that you pass off as posts.

But what do you call the cut/paste you post as though it is your thought....and your repetitive use of the same cut/paste on multiple threads is classic spamming....

But what is "spamming lie"?....Help out we normal functioning humans that need to endure your psychosis on display.

Amused Slew wrote:

<quoted text>Funny, you "pretend" the wages age a gift and it isn't their money for EDUCATED people to use as they see fit... Of course in your world they're buying influence, but the Koch Brothers aren't, right ??? Horrible teachers, educating YOUR kids, huh ??? LMAOROTDU~!

Poster Child,

YOU are exactly why it is a crime to pay Dependents with Government Jobs anything but Minimum wage as they put in their 187 days per year in thier Opulent Government Schools.

You are not only uneducated and indoctrinated, but you are the classic sheeple that had to much of your neighbors wealth put into your defective mind for ZERO effect.

Amused Slew wrote:

mjedications
Poor dishonest, cowardly drunk...You have my sympathies.... Down to spamming lies and you were once "human"...

"Funny, you "pretend" the wages age a..."

Pot/Kettle

Gee, I wonder how the Sludge will react to my pot & kettle comment?

Love the originality, it's about your "SPEED" ...remember when you bragged about being registered ??? How hypocritical are Y-O-U !??

All public sector unions should be banned. That is an incestious relationship between the elected officials and the unions.

Unlike the private sector unions where each of the stake holders has something to lose in the negotiations, neither the elected officials or the unions have anything at risk.

The taxpayer loses every time.

The elected officials have jobs, budgets, and the market value to consider...

Are you really attempting to say market value works for CEOs, but not ordinary workers ??? Feel free to explain the explosion in CEO pay... ANYTIME !!!

Seems like a BOD, made up of other CEO types IS THE REAL PROBLEM !~

Compensation for chief executives at American companies grew 15 percent in 2011 after a 28 percent rise in 2010, part of a larger trend that has seen CEO pay skyrocket over the last three decades. Workers, on the other hand, have been left behind.

Since 1978, CEO pay at American firms has risen 725 percent, more than 127 times faster than worker pay over the same time period, according to new data from the Economic Policy Institute:

From 1978 to 2011, CEO compensation increased more than 725 percent, a rise substantially greater than stock market growth and the painfully slow 5.7 percent growth in worker compensation over the same period.

Amused Slew wrote:

The elected officials have jobs, budgets, and the market value to consider...
Are you really attempting to say market value works for CEOs, but not ordinary workers ??? Feel free to explain the explosion in CEO pay... ANYTIME !!!
Seems like a BOD, made up of other CEO types IS THE REAL PROBLEM !~
Compensation for chief executives at American companies grew 15 percent in 2011 after a 28 percent rise in 2010, part of a larger trend that has seen CEO pay skyrocket over the last three decades. Workers, on the other hand, have been left behind.
Since 1978, CEO pay at American firms has risen 725 percent, more than 127 times faster than worker pay over the same time period, according to new data from the Economic Policy Institute:
From 1978 to 2011, CEO compensation increased more than 725 percent, a rise substantially greater than stock market growth and the painfully slow 5.7 percent growth in worker compensation over the same period.

Honey, Now you know how Dady does not like it when yopu play with his Computer.......

Those Bad People whose web sites you go to to cut/paste from are not good for you. Your Thorazine is good for you.

Now it is past bedtime and you need your Beauty Sleep....Nighty Night now Slewsie.

Amused Slew wrote:

The elected officials have jobs, budgets, and the market value to consider...
Are you really attempting to say market value works for CEOs, but not ordinary workers ??? Feel free to explain the explosion in CEO pay... ANYTIME !!!
Seems like a BOD, made up of other CEO types IS THE REAL PROBLEM !~
Compensation for chief executives at American companies grew 15 percent in 2011 after a 28 percent rise in 2010, part of a larger trend that has seen CEO pay skyrocket over the last three decades. Workers, on the other hand, have been left behind.
Since 1978, CEO pay at American firms has risen 725 percent, more than 127 times faster than worker pay over the same time period, according to new data from the Economic Policy Institute:
From 1978 to 2011, CEO compensation increased more than 725 percent, a rise substantially greater than stock market growth and the painfully slow 5.7 percent growth in worker compensation over the same period.

In Communist China, there is no problem with CEO compensation. The government controls all private industry.

In Communist China, there is no problem with public sector unions ripping of the tax payers. The government controls all labor unions.

Sludge is simply lost. He thinks he is in Coimmunist China.

Fred wrote:

<quoted text>
In Communist China, there is no problem with CEO compensation. The government controls all private industry.
In Communist China, there is no problem with public sector unions ripping of the tax payers. The government controls all labor unions.
Sludge is simply lost. He thinks he is in Coimmunist China.

In America there is a problem, with CEO compensation....Does changing the subject fix it ??? WOW !?? No brains and making nonsense up, again... LMAOROTFu~!

Amused Slew wrote:

<quoted text>In America there is a problem, with CEO compensation....Does changing the subject fix it ??? WOW !?? No brains and making nonsense up, again... LMAOROTFu~!

CEO compensation is not your problem or your money. Unless they stole it. If they stole it then you strip them of all their assets and put them in prison.

Tom Pedders wrote:

<quoted text>
CEO compensation is not your problem or your money. Unless they stole it. If they stole it then you strip them of all their assets and put them in prison.

So, your working theory is ALL CRIMINALS are caught and freedom of speech & expression are wrong, right name changer ??? LMAOROTFu~!

Smiley Slew wrote:

<quoted text>So, your working theory is ALL CRIMINALS are caught and freedom of speech & expression are wrong, right name changer ??? LMAOROTFu~!

Little Girl....PLEASE stop embarassing Daddy and Me!

Your constant change of your standards is a result of the brain injury and although it is not your fault, please embrace that your defective functions limit your ability to communicate in a consistent manner.

They "noticed" you Slewsie....now go to bed and put down Daddy's Computer!