Teachers union tries to sway Ohio races with TV ads and mailings
Source: Cleveland.com
By Sabrina Eaton
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Perceived attacks on public education have spurred the Ohio Education Association teachers union to spend $750,000 to sway a variety of Ohio election contests this year with independent expenditures.
Citing "a steady parade of serious charter school scandals," union spokeswoman Sandy Theis said the group is spending money to influence Ohio races because "public education is under attack in Ohio and the OEA knows how critical it is to support candidates who recognize good schools are vital to Ohio's future."
A series of federal court decisions including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission set the stage for the creation of Super PACs that allow businesses and unions to spend unlimited money to boost the election or defeat of particular candidates, as long as those expenditures aren't coordinated with any candidate's campaign or political party.
The teachers' group was part of the 2011 union coalition that secured repeal of Senate Bill 5, a measure that would have limited collective bargaining for public employees throughout Ohio.
FULL story at link.
Cleveland teachers protested budget cuts for schools at a school board meeting earlier this year. (Patrick O'Donnell/The Plain Dealer)
Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/10/teachers_union_funds_independe.html