November 3, 1998

WEA'S CAMPAIGN '98:
YOUR DUES... YOUR POLITICS?

How much does the Washington Education Association spend on politics and where does it come from?   These are questions that could easily be answered if the WEA disclosed its budget to members.  But since the union is steadfastly opposed to this, the only avenue left for disclosure is the information that the union's PAC reports to the state's Public Disclosure Commission.  Since the beginning of this election year, we have been collecting and studying WEA's disclosure files, but unfortunately a full and accurate accounting of WEA politicking will not be available until after the election. 

        However, the methods of politicking used by the WEA during 1996 give some clues to deciphering the political enigma of the 1998 elections.   According to documents released by the union during the state's lawsuit, the union organized its politics as a "coordinated campaign" that encompassed local races, national races, ballot measures, and "member education."  This year, the operations conform to a similar pattern: a coordinated campaign run through WEA-PAC, and supplemented by infusions of cash from the union's general treasury -- i.e., members compulsory dues payments.

        During 1998, WEA-PAC has raised over $176,000 to supplement an existing budget totaling nearly $400,000. As of early October, WEA-PAC had spent over $220,000 on state legislative and supreme court races as well as statewide ballot initiatives.  Of the money that WEA-PAC raised, over 34 percent of it came in the form of "In-Kind" contributions from WEA (i.e. members compulsory dues payments).

WEA-PAC: WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM?

*WEA-PAC receipts - 1/1/98 thru 10/13/98
Source: Washington State Public Disclosure Commission

WEA-PAC: WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING...

We have been able to uncover several facts on this year's campaign which one might find interesting:

• During the 1997-98 election cycle, over 85% of WEA-PAC's party and candidate contributions has gone to Democrats. 15% of WEA-PAC's contributions have gone to Republicans (Of course, both the party and candidates have no obligation to use the money for highlighting education and teacher causes.)

• Between January of this year thru September, the WEA has given over $65,000 to the PAC (this number will be much higher when the campaign season totals are available in December).

• The WEA (apparently not the PAC) has given over $42,000 to the campaign opposing state Initiative 200.

• In addition, WEA has given nearly over $35,000 to the campaign opposing Referendum 49.

• WEA-PAC has spent $11,000 as an INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE to defeat state Senator Ray Schow of Federal Way who does not even serve on the House's Committee on Education.  The PAC has spent an additional $15,000 in independent expenditures to help other Democratic candidates including Beth Wilson, Jerilita Costa, and Georgia Gardner.

 

*WEA-PAC Party/Candidate Contributions - 1/97 thru 9/98
Source: The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission