Evil Lobbyists
by rrusczyk, Mar 4, 2009, 8:48 PM
Usually that phrase conjures up images of hacks helping big companies get Congress to write law that funnels money and power to the companies. But corporations have nothing on the teachers' unions in this regard.
One key excerpt:
I am very much not a fan of the way big money captures government and buttonholes it into bad policy. But it's not just oil companies that do so. If I had to make a list of everything that's wrong with education, the teachers' unions would be somewhere near the top of the list.
One key excerpt:
Quote:
The top two teachers unions—AFT and the National Education Association—spent more combined, ![$ \$[/dollar]$](//latex.artofproblemsolving.com/b/5/6/b568fa9285ffa9b8ece362db5699fd4075257979.png)
5.27 million, than the top two defense contractors.
The top five lobbying firms, combined, didn’t equal the AFT and the NEA in federal contributions in the 2008 cycle. Both of the teachers unions gave more than any oil company, and the NEA and AFT combined gave more than the top four oil companies combined.
These contributions give the unions clout, and federal lobbying records show they use this clout. Again, on closer inspection, the teachers unions look an awful lot like those corporate special interests Democrats supposedly oppose.
The NEA employs four different lobbying firms in Washington, in addition to their in-house lobbying arm, which includes at least six lobbyists. Over the past two years, the NEA spent10.7 million on lobbying. Reviewing the filings of the NEA, the AFT, and their K Street hires reveals that lobbying to kill DC vouchers was a priority.
![$ \$[/dollar]$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/b/5/6/b568fa9285ffa9b8ece362db5699fd4075257979.png)
5.27 million, than the top two defense contractors.The top five lobbying firms, combined, didn’t equal the AFT and the NEA in federal contributions in the 2008 cycle. Both of the teachers unions gave more than any oil company, and the NEA and AFT combined gave more than the top four oil companies combined.
These contributions give the unions clout, and federal lobbying records show they use this clout. Again, on closer inspection, the teachers unions look an awful lot like those corporate special interests Democrats supposedly oppose.
The NEA employs four different lobbying firms in Washington, in addition to their in-house lobbying arm, which includes at least six lobbyists. Over the past two years, the NEA spent
10.7 million on lobbying. Reviewing the filings of the NEA, the AFT, and their K Street hires reveals that lobbying to kill DC vouchers was a priority.I am very much not a fan of the way big money captures government and buttonholes it into bad policy. But it's not just oil companies that do so. If I had to make a list of everything that's wrong with education, the teachers' unions would be somewhere near the top of the list.
February 2012
January 2012