After nearly two years of denials and legal maneuvering, the Washington Education
Association has admitted it broke numerous campaign finance laws in its recent $430,000
settlement with the state Attorney General Christine Gregoire.
The out-of-court settlement says
WEA's violations were unintentional. But the scope of the campaign finances involved
suggest otherwise...
Union representatives say they are
sorry. But their contrition is overshadowed by WEA spin doctors who continue to
blame the entire investigation on a right-wing conspiracy...
What next? WEA's rank-and-file
members could begin to restore trust within the organization and with the public by
demanding that union leaders open the books. That would move WEA from external
damage control to internal damage repair.