Just a month before the Landmark Legal Foundation filed its complaint against the National Education Association, Choices for Children, a Michigan-based nonprofit education reform organization, released two studies of the 105th and 106th U.S. Congress showing a strong correlation between campaign contributions from the two major teacher unions–the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers–and votes against school choice plans in Congress.
In the U.S. House, the NEA and AFT donated an average of $24,703 more in campaign contributions to Democrat candidates than to Republicans. In the U.S. Senate, the two unions donated an average of $17,430 more to Democrat candidates than to Republicans. Republicans in both the House and the Senate were much more likely than Democrats to votes in favor of school choice.
“It is disturbing to learn, as these reports indicate, that there is a strong correlation between Members of Congress receiving campaign contributions from the nation’s largest teacher unions and these Members’ willingness to deny underprivileged children increased educational opportunities,” said Choices for Children’s Chairman Betsy DeVos. “Underprivileged children trapped in failing schools have found their futures exchanged for campaign cash,” she added.
For more information . . .
Both of the June 21, 2001 reports, For & Against Parents: A Report Card on School Choice Votes in the 105 and 106th Congress, are available from the Choices for Children Web site at www.choicesforchildren.org.
George Clowes is former Heartland senior fellow addressing education policy. He served as founding managing editor of School Reform News between November 1996 and January 2005.
