Teachers' Union: Many Members Conservative; Overwhelmingly Funds 'Progressive' Groups
National Education Association sending money to Media Matters, Progress Michigan
In the past, the National Education Association has made a point to highlight that many of its members consider themselves “conservative.” Those conservative teachers, however, may raise their eyebrows over some of the organizations their national union financially supports.
The Michigan Education Association and NEA conceded that a large percentage of teachers are conservative in their October 2010 magazine.
It posted NEA statistics that found 45 percent of teachers under 30 classified themselves as conservative and 63 percent of teachers aged 40 to 49 classified themselves as conservatives.
Yet, many of those organizations that received money from the NEA describe themselves as improving America through “progressive ideas and action.”
The Education Intelligence Agency recently posted where the $18.8 million in contributions the National Educational Association made for the 2010 fiscal year year went. The website claims all the contributions were paid for with members’ dues money.
The National Education Association gave $100,000 to Media Matters and $10,000 to Progress Michigan.
Progress Michigan describes its mission as “the promotion of progressive ideas” and to “build grassroots support for progressive ideas” and challenge “conservative propaganda in the media.”
Media Matters describes its mission as “correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.”
There was a $250,000 donation to the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, located in East Lansing. The Great Lakes Center is funded by labor unions and many of its reports echo the stances of the public school unions whose members serve as chairman and trustees.
The NEA did give $20,000 to Republican Main Street Partnership, which was founded to “promote thoughtful leadership in the Republican Party.” The Republican Main Street Partnership has been described as a lobbying group for “moderate” Republicans.
Sara Robertson, spokesman for the NEA, was asked to list one conservative organization the NEA supported financially. Robertson emailed that she would respond but hadn’t after three days.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.
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Jan. 13, 2012 MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call
The Legislature began the 2012 session in a pro-forma assembly on Wednesday during which no votes were taken, so this report instead contains several newly introduced bills of interest.
Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
Senate Bill 775: Revise allowable deer hunting guns south of “rifle line”
Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R), to revise the types of firearms allowed for deer hunting south of the “rifle line” in the Lower Peninsula. In addition to shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles, hunters could use a .35 caliber or larger pistol capable of holding no more than nine rounds, and a .35 caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled cartridges and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches (in other words, not a high-power rifle cartridge). Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 779: Impose criminal penalties for making toy gun look real
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D), to prohibit changing, altering, removing, or obliterating any coloration or markings on an imitation or toy gun that are required by any applicable state or federal laws, in a way that makes it look more like a real firearm, subject to up to18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 802: Require state agencies post spending plans online
Introduced by Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R), to require state agencies to post online a detailed spreadsheet with their proposed spending for the next fiscal year, before the deadline for the governor to submit a budget to the legislature. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 803: Require voters to affirm citizenship
Introduced by Sen. Darwin Booher (R), to require voters to affirm that they are a U.S. citizen when voting or applying for an absentee ballot. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 819: Restrict diesel idling
Introduced by Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D), to prohibit heavy diesel trucks (over 8,500 pounds) from idling more than five minutes within a one hour period, or 15 minutes for loaded buses (or 30 minutes for ones waiting to unload), with certain exceptions, subject to fines of up to $500. Rather than the fine revenue going to public libraries as in other traffic violation laws (intended to prevent local governments and police agencies from using enforcement to raise revenue), it would instead go to local governments. Also, the measure could be enforced by local volunteer “parking officers”. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Senate Bill 857: Ban barber pole display by unlicensed hair cutters
Introduced by Sen. John Gleason (D), to revise the law that prohibits a person from earning a living as a barber unless he or she gets a state license, so that it would prohibit a person who does not have the license from displaying a barber pole. Under current law, barbering is illegal without a license, and a new barber can’t get a license unless he or she has completed a 2,000-hour course of study at a licensed barber college, and met other requirements imposed by a board comprised of existing barbers who have received political appointments to this board. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
House Bill 5128: Create specialty “business courts”
Introduced by Rep. John Walsh (R), to create a new specialty “business court” division within local circuit courts, which would specialize in business and commercial disputes greater than $25,000. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
House Bill 5138: Create state “yellow dot” medical safety program
Introduced by Rep. Aric Nesbitt (R), to create a state “yellow dot” program to alert medical responders of medical information located inside a vehicle. Participants would get an easily-visible yellow dot decal to put on the driver’s side rear window, which alerts emergency responders to look in the glove compartment for a form with emergency contact information, physician information, medical conditions, recent surgeries, allergies and medications being used, etc. Referred to committee, no further action at this time.
Interested in all the Roll Calls from last year? Cumulative List of All Weekly Roll Call Report Votes for 2011
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.