WEA Misdeeds - General Dues

1992-93 WEA Use of General Dues for Politics

"Life After I-134" Task Force

Washington state voters passed a landmark campaign finance law in 1992. More than 72 percent of voters said "yes" to Initiative 134 which, among other campaign reform limits, provided a requirement that before payroll deductions for politics were taken, annual, written permission had to be obtained from the employee.

When first faced with Initiative 134, labor organizations turned their disapproval toward producing a counter-initiative which guaranteed protection for the sacred cow of unions' political clout-mandatory political assessments. When the union-favored proposal failed to garner enough signatures to make the November 1992 ballot, unions invested money and time to defeat Initiative 134. The total amount of union anti-134 spending is unknown, but expenditures of $158,000 were reported to campaign officials. Of the reported $158,000, the Washington Education Association donated $85,250, including a single contribution of $50,000 from the National Education Association. See Contribution List below for a list of teacher union donations.

Despite well-funded opposition, Initiative 134 passed with tremendous popular support. Upon passage, the WEA formed a committee called "Life After I-134 Task Force." Minutes from the meetings of this task force reveal the WEA's emphasis on the need for collection of political monies.

Documentation