Settlement A Farce

Wed., March 11, 1998

John Webster For The Editorial

Chalk it up to the cost of doing business. Four days after it agreed to pay the largest penalty in state history for violating campaign finance laws, the Washington Education Association flexed its muscles and helped kill another school reform proposal.

Penalty? What penalty? Armed with dues teachers must pay whether they agree with the union’s agenda or not, WEA now enjoys a degree of power that’s as audacious as it is unmatched.

Back in 1996, WEA fought and killed a charter school initiative. It did so with help from $410,000 from the National Education Association. The source of that gift was not properly disclosed. This is one of the violations that got WEA in trouble with the law. Others included WEA’s scramble to circumvent Initiative 134, a campaign finance law voters passed in 1994. The initiative forced WEA to ask teachers for permission before sending dues to political candidates or action committees (PACs), and most teachers declined. So, WEA funneled money to its PAC from its Community Outreach Program, and the influence buying continued. Teachers who disagreed with their union’s left-leaning political agenda blew the whistle. Investigations by the the disclosure commission and the attorney documented violations.

At first, it appeared the case would receive vigorous prosecution by Attorney General Christine Gregoire, who, like most Democrats, had enjoyed WEA support in the past. Then, on Feb. 26, a settlement stopped the case short of court, where the whole tale might have been told. Claiming it merely had made unintentional “mistakes,” WEA agreed to pay an $80,000 fine, $20,000 in attorney fees and a refund of $5 to each of its 65,000 members.

But the settlement also provides that in the future, WEA can send teachers’ dues to candidates and political organizations straight from WEA’s general treasury. For a concession like that, WEA might deem the penalties a worthwhile investment. Why should unions bother with PACs if they can just open their treasuries to the campaigns? Gifts in the coming election will deserve some scrutiny.

On March 2, meanwhile, WEA lobbying helped kill charter school legislation - again. This bill was backed not only by moderate Republicans and Democrats but also by Gov. Gary Locke. Maybe someone learned a lesson from this exercise, but it wasn’t WEA - which remains, as it was before the violations, the most powerful influence group in the state.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster For the editorial board

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