Seattle Times
Opinion, March 9^th, 1998

Settlement doesn't end questions about WEA

After nearly two years of denials and legal maneuvering, the Washington Education Association has admitted it broke numerous campaign finance laws in its recent $430,000 settlement with the state Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

The out-of-court settlement says WEA's violations were unintentional. But the scope of the campaign finances involved suggest otherwise...

Union representatives say they are sorry. But their contrition is overshadowed by WEA spin doctors who continue to blame the entire investigation on a right-wing conspiracy...

What next? WEA's rank-and-file members could begin to restore trust within the organization and with the public by demanding that union leaders open the books. That would move WEA from external damage control to internal damage repair.

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org

Quotables:

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical." - Thomas Jefferson

"If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." - John Stuart Mill