GOP bill draws teachers' anger

Orlando Sentinel ^

[Cincinatus' Wife]

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's teachers union is getting a taste of political payback.

After bankrolling the unsuccessful gubernatorial bid of Democrat Bill McBride last year, the Florida Education Association is coming under attack by some Republican legislators because dues paid by its members help run political campaigns.

"I do not oppose the choice of people belonging to unions," said Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "But teachers came to me with complaints of their money being spent to support candidates they didn't support."

The GOP-dominated Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee on Tuesday approved Fasano's proposal (SB 1652) to limit payroll deductions only for the cost of collective bargaining and grievance adjustment. The committee split along party lines, with six Republicans supporting the measure and three Democrats opposing it.

"This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote. "We voted to support candidates who were chosen based on their educational positions. "

[Cincinatus' Wife]

TEACHERS BACK GORE WITH MONEY, MUSCLE

[noutopia]

Nany Nany Poo Poo.

[goldstategop]

Good. Its time to send the GOP's enemies a message that they can't fund political campaigns with taxpayer dollars. No wonder it sticks up the craw of the Florida teachers' unions. That should neuter em big time.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

That should neuter em big time.

It's a help. They'll still man the phones in "get out the vote" and campaign in our classrooms.

[kcvl]

President Maureen Dinnen's remarks before the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee --

3.11.03

Posted March 11, 2003 - 03:14 PM

http://www.feaweb.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2430

---

SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ALERT!
Lawmakers have introduced a "paycheck deception" bill that targets only the teachers and would severely restrict their ability to collecting dues through paycheck deduction. Here's what you can do to take action!


Paycheck Deception is Back and We Can Stop it!

On Tuesday, the Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee is scheduled to hear a new incarnation of Paycheck Deception.

Senate Bill 1652 by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, targets only the teachers and would severely restrict their ability to collecting dues through paycheck deduction. The bill would also prohibit the use of dues collected for any political purposes including legislative research and lobbying and would greatly increase current reporting requirements and fees.

Proponents are blaming the teachers union for the teacher shortage crisis and are claiming that unions violate people's first amendment rights!

This bill is nothing but political retribution for union activity in the last election. Supporters have stated that these measures should eventually be imposed on all unions!

This legislation is illegal, unfair and absolutely unnecessary:

* Florida is a right-to-work state meaning union membership is absolutely positively voluntary. Union dues are deducted from paychecks because people want them to be.

* Unions operate democratically, if their members vote to use money for political activities it is their right to do so.

* The bill only applies to our teachers, raising U.S. Constitutional questions of "equal protection."

CALL, FAX, OR EMAIL THESE SENATORS TODAY - ASK THEM TO OPPOSE THIS BAD BILL
WHO: Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee
WHAT: SB 1652 by Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey
WHEN: 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 11, 2003
WHERE: 110 Senate Office Building

Bill Sponsor
SEN. MIKE FASANO, R-NEW PORT RICHEY
E-mail: fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5062 Statewide Phone: 1.800.948.5885

Bill Co-sponsor
SEN. NANCY ARGENZIANO, R-CRYSTAL RIVER
E-mail: argenziano.nancy.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5017

Bill Co-sponsor
SEN. CHARLIE CLARY, R-DESTIN
E-mail: clary.charlie.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5009

Senate Governmental Oversight and Productivity Committee
Committee Chairman
SEN. STEVE WISE, R-JACKSONVILLE
E-mail: wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5027

Committee Vice Chairman
SEN. LES MILLER, D-TAMPA
E-mail: miller.lesley.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5059/ FAX: 888.263.7871

SEN. DAVE ARONBERG, D-GREENACRES
E-mail: aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5356/ Statewide Phone: 1.800.444.9747

SEN. JEFF ATWATER, R-NORTH PALM BEACH
E-mail: atwater.jeffrey.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5100

SEN. ANNA COWIN, R-LEESBURG
E-mail: cowin.anna.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5014

SEN. LEE CONSTATINE, R-ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
E-mail: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5050

SEN. AL LAWSON, D-TALLAHASSEE
E-mail: lawson.alfred.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5004

SEN. BILL POSEY, R-ROCKLEDGE
E-mail: posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov
Capitol Phone: 850.487.5053

[friendly]

If only the pubbies in DC were this sane. DEFUND THE LEFT! DEFUND THE ENEMIES OF OUR NATION!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I don't think anyone can shut her mouth. Too bad she's involved in education. People like this have destroyed public education and in my opinion, endangered the country.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

If only the pubbies in DC were this sane.

We need a bigger majority.

[majordivit]

I thought the campaign reform legislation signed last year eliminated soft money contributions from corporations and union dues. Don't tell me unions were left out of the legislation?

[aynrandfreak]

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of people trying to brainwash our kids.

[kcvl]

She was so angry she was SHAKING...roflol

Maureen Dinnen(pink), Elaine Bloom, Barbara Pippin, Tom Green

[kcvl]

Having their power, influence and money(ours) taken away will sometimes make people SHAKE. lol

[paul544]

Sen. Les Miller, D-Tampa, called the bill discriminatory and likened it to the bias he has felt as a black man.

So they're both full of crap.

[friendly]

Maureen Dinnen(pink), Elaine Bloom, Barbara Pippin, Tom Green

Floriduh public school teachers unions provide incredibly bad educational services. It is well known that if you move to Floriduh, you must send yours kids to private school.

I will bet the farm that this rogue's gallery of leftist vermin sent/sends all their kids to private school. As do an astonishing number of public school teachers in the rest of the US. Here in NY its 40%.

[friendly]

To quote from Jaws: "we need a bigger boat."

[kcvl]

Miller's Email: miller.lesley.web@leg.state.fl.us
Miller's Phone: (813) 272-2831
Miller's Fax: FAX (813) 272-2833

[political1]

The article said that 2 million out of their 17 million budget went to fund the campaign. That is above 11.76% of their total budget. How can anyone blow that much out of their budget. Bill McBride couldn't give them anything more than they already had. He could just help maintain the status quo. That's a lot of money to pay in order to stay the same way as one already happens to be. Someone was quoted as saying they contributed to the candidates who thought the same way as they did about education. Teachers unions have never been, and are not now about education. They are about teachers positions and jobs.

[Just another Joe]

"This bill is telling me to shut my mouth," said Maureen Dinnen, president of the teachers union, who was visibly shaking with anger after the vote.

From what I read it's not telling her to shut her mouth, it's telling her to not use dues money to back any political candidate.
Not all the people paying dues want to back the same candidate.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

They are about teachers positions and jobs.

And that goes hand and glove with the DNC and Democrat legislation. Of course many teachers and politicians don't send their children into these schools.

Dozens of schools accepted with flaws - $Billions down public education rat-hole

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Boston Globe - Student suspensions leap in state *** Under the most recent figures, the rate of student removals has risen slightly to 1.6 students suspended or expelled per 1,000 children. The year before, it was 1.5 students. Still, that small an increase in the rate of suspension for the almost 980,000 students in schools across the state translates into the double-digit jump in percentage of suspensions.

Educators and psychologists yesterday said the increase in disruptive students being removed reflects several factors, ranging from schools not meeting students' needs to a breakdown in classroom respect, to lingering effects from the fatal Columbine High School shootings.***