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November 21, 2008
In the News
 CNSNews.com Teachers Union Being Prosecuted for Illegally Spending
Dues (CNSNews.com) - The nation's largest teachers union is being prosecuted for illegally using fees paid by non-members for political purposes. Washington State Attorney General Christine Gregoire has filed suit against the National Education Association in Thurston County Superior Court. The suit was filed last Thursday, just two days after the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) found the union guilty of violating a state law requiring unions to get permission from non-member teachers before spending their mandatory "agency fees" on political activities. The attorney general's office noted that the allegations in the NEA case are similar to ones made in late 2000 involving the Washington Education Association, the NEA state affiliate. Those earlier allegations resulted in a $400,000 penalty against the WEA, a verdict that is currently on appeal. The complaint was originally brought before the commission by NEA/WEA arch enemy, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF), a conservative public interest group. "Attorney General Gregoire thoroughly investigated the WEA last year, and we expect she will do the same with the NEA," said Bob Williams, EFF's president. "Citizens and teachers deserve to know the magnitude of the NEA's illegal political spending." EFF believes it's much higher than NEA has stated. The NEA case goes before the trial court on Jan. 3, 2003 for a preliminary status conference to set the subsequent agenda. 
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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 |
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