In the News

Date	Source	Synopsis
10/7/02	Teachers union being prosecuted for illegally spending dues CNSNews.com	Attorney General Christine Gregoire files suit against the NEA for illegally using members dues for politics.
10/5/02	State claims teachers union misuses funds Spokesman-Review	The attorney general decides to take the NEA to court after the PDC found the teacher union had misused members' dues.
5/15/02	WEA's attack ads expose its own weakness Port Orchard Independent	The editorial board of the Independent takes a swing at the WEA's latest mud-slinging campaign.
4/25/02	More on Smear Centralia Chronicle	The Chronicle's editorial writers takes the WEA to task for slinking to such low levels to avoid the issue of their intentional campaign finance violations
4/24/02	WEA Waging war with Bob Williams Longview Daily News	The Daily News reports the tactics the WEA is using attempting to discredit the former Longview Representative
4/22/02	PDC decision is just plain wrong Bellingham Herald	The Bellingham Herald blasts the Public Disclosure Commission over their decision recommending the Attorney General's office not pursue the WEA in court due to "budget constraints."
4/15/02	Teachers union fires back at conservative groupSpokesman-Review	The WEA launches an all-out attack on EFF and our president Bob Williams.
4/15/02	PDC wrong to suggest state can't afford NEA case Seattle P-I	The Seattle P-I editorial board takes issue with the PDC decision to recommend the AG settle with the NEA
4/11/02	WEA Only Hurts Members With Smear Campaign Yakima Herald-Republic	The Yakima editors also lambast the WEA for waging such a shameful smear campaign.
4/11/02	Teachers' union earns detention The Columbian	An editorial points out the WEA should be embarrassed for its latest violations and its public relations tactics used against EFF.
4/10/02	Group sues NEA over spending The Olympian	The PDC finds the NEA guilty of campaign violations but recommends settlement due to budget constraints.
4/9/02	Watchdog says NEA broke rules The Olympian	The PDC considers the NEA case and releases its recommendation
3/24/02	NEA plays politics illegally, foe says The Washington Times	Washington Times columnist Ellen Sorokin lays out the fight between the EFF and WEA in a Washington, D.C. newspaper.
2/1/02	Washington teachers finally get their union refunds Human Events)	Washington state teachers receive their EFF court-won refunds from the WEA as well as the NEA, who was not involved in the lawsuit.
1/05/02	Teachers union ordered to pay legal fees The Olympian	The WEA is ordered to pay the state $190,000 in legal fees stemming from the lawsuit over the union's use of nonmember fees to fund political causes.
12/26/02	Teachers' union engaged in running battle with conservative group. Seattle Times	An AP story chronicles the David/Goliath battle between EFF and the WEA.
11/17/02	WEA ordered to return dues Seattle P-I	Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor orders the WEA to return teachers' illegally spent union dues.
8/01/01	Judge fines WEA $400,000 Seattle P-I	Judge Gary Tabor fines the WEA $400,000 for "intentionally violating campaign finance laws."
5/19/01	State asks judge to fine WEA up to $600,000 Olympian	The Attorney General's office asks for the largest campaign finance fine ever assessed.
10/11/00	State should throw the book at WEA Seattle P-I	The Attorney General files suit against the WEA for violating campaign finance laws.
10/6/00	Once again, WEA violates state campaign law Eastside Journal	The EJ opines, "This latest example not only embarrasses its 68,000 members but also shows disdain to the public."
9/27/00	New woes bedevil teachers union The Associated Press	The PDC recommends that the Attorney General take legal action against the WEA.
7/13/00	Judge rescinds own fine against the NEA The Columbian	A judge rescinds his own order fining the National Education Association $800,000 in a campaign finance case.
7/2/00	NEA Slapped With $800,000 Fine for Misappropriating Union Dues Fox News Channel	The NEA is crying foul play after a Washington state judge slapped the country's largest teachers union with an $800,000 fine.
7/28/99	Teachers union wins court fight Seattle Times	The Supreme Court fails to protect union workers' First Amendment Rights.
5/28/99	Teachers union, foes await ruling The Columbian	Thurston County Judge Thomas McPhee presides over the decision whether or not the WEA should declare itself a PAC.
5/16/99	Politics in Disguise The Columbian	Editorial writer Elizabeth Hovde delves into the issue of union workers not having a say on how their dues money is spent on politics.
3/10/99	PDC dismisses allegations against Olympia foundation Yakima Herald-Republic	The PDC rejects allegations that EFF operated an illegal lobbying organization.
3/3/02	Teachers' union is fined in disclosure case Seattle P-I	WEA is fined $15,000 for not turning documents over in a timely fashion.
11/18/98	Attorney General's office fined for withholding documents Walla Walla Bulletin	The state Attorney General's office is fined $10,000 for not turning over pubic documents.
7/25/98	Court again tells disclosure panel it must disclose Seattle Times	A judge rules the PDC must turn over public documents and fines them $20,000.
4/5/98	Workers owed right to decide donations Seattle Times	This is a general overview of "Paycheck Protection."
3/11/98	Settlement a farce Spokesman-Review	SR's editorial board opines against the AG/WEA settlement.
3/9/98	Settlement doesn't end questions about WEA Seattle Times	The Times rants against the WEA/AG settlements.
3/3/98	WEA is quite contrite now The Olympian	Another paper editorializes against the proposed settlement between the WEA and the Attorney General.
3/3/98	No excusing WEA election violations Tacoma News Tribune	This article calls the actions of the WEA akin to having one's hand caught in the cookie jar.
3/19/98	Government vs. The First Amendment Investor's Business Daily	IBD takes a look into how government lets unions trample over their own member's first amendment rights.
3/9/98	Fairness and the Unions Wall Street Journal	WSJ takes a look at the NEA/AG settlement and other unions guilty of taking advantage of campaign finance laws.
1/6/98	Paycheck Protection Wall Street Journal	This outlines the early stages of the Paycheck Protection campaign.