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WEA committed significant time and effort to develop a comprehensive campaign
plan for 1996 involving "initiatives, statewide offices, legislative races,
the Congress and the Office of President."
In 1996, a group of teachers approached Evergreen Freedom Foundation (EFF)
on the matter of their mandatory union dues going to fund WEA political activity.
EFF filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). The PDC's
executive director described WEA's 1996 campaign activities as "the most
serious campaign finance law violations in state history." Evidence produced
from these investigations revealed that:
- WEA spent $1.4 mil in '96 on politics/ballot initiatives.
- WEA formed a political oversight committee for the '96 election cycle.
- WEA requested $400,000 from NEA for defeating ballot initiatives.
- WEA planned to be "highly involved" in the election cycle.
EFF's complaint led to State of Washington ex rel. Evergreen Freedom Foundation,
et al. v. Washington Education Association, et al., Case No. 97-2-01419-8.
While Thurston County Superior Court Judge W. T. McPhee ruled the WEA is not
a political action committee, WEA admitted that it had spent between $1.1 and
1.6 million to influence the outcome of the 1996 elections. Only $700,000 of
that amount was reported to the public.
Documentation
| 5/17/95 |
Memo
from NEA to WEA |
Outlines WEA's strategy for dealing with legislative/political
issues: "WEA must be highly involved and deeply committed...."
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| 9/5/95 |
Request
for Assistance |
WEA request NEA assistance for defeating ballot initiatives. |
| 3/8/96 |
Staffing
Costs / Campaign '96 |
WEA estimates organization's expenditures for November 1996
election will total $1.5 million and 25-30 full-time staff persons. |
| 3/13/96 |
WEA
Budget for 1996 Election |
Proposed budget of $1.5 million for WEA 1996 Election Program. |
| 4/4/96 |
Request
for Assistance |
WEA requests $400,000 from NEA for defeating two ballot initiatives. |
| 4/9/96 |
WEA
Letter |
Letter from WEA President states: "WEA has committed
significant time and effort to develop a comprehensive campaign plan for
1996 involving the initiatives, statewide offices, legislative races, the
Congress and the Office of President." |
| 5/8/96 |
WEA
Board Meeting Minutes |
Board Minutes reveal WEA spending of $1.4 million on Campaign
'96 to date. |
| 5/96 |
WEA
Executive Report |
WEA Executive Director report. "The most significant
organizational change the WEA experienced in 1995-96 was the creation of
a...Oversight Committee on Public Policy." |
| 6/24/96 |
NEA
Memo/Check for $150,000 |
NEA sends $150,000 to WEA for defeat of ballot initiatives. |
| 8/26/96 |
NEA
Memorandum |
NEA Regional Director recommends to NEA Executive Director
to allocate an additional $250,000 to WEA. |
| 9/2/96 |
NEA
Memo/Check for $250,000 |
NEA Executive Director approves additional allocation of $250,000
to WEA. Copy of check |
| 8/26/99 |
Judge McPhee
Decision |
Thurston County Superior Court Judge McPhee rules that the
WEA is not a PAC, but lists details of WEA’s political expenditures. |
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