Jolt
Afternoon Jolt: The Teachers' Union
Today's loser: The Washington Education Association
The WEA spent some serious cash on independent expenditures this week to help vulnerable Democratic state legislators.
Three of the five—State Sen. Eric Oemig and state Reps. Ross Hunter and Troy Kelley—got nearly $25,000 combined in support from the teachers' union. (Not to mention that the union spent over $4,000 on opposing Oemig's and Kelley's opponents.)
We checked up on how those three voted on the 2009 education reform bill, which the WEA vehemently opposed because they said it unfarily upped education standards, but provided no funding.
Turns out, both Kelley and Oemig voted for it. Hunter we already knew about: He led the fight for it. (Plus, we've got Oemig on the record saying he supports charter schools , a big taboo for the WEA).
Gotta say, doling out a $9,000 independent expenditure for the guy who led the fight against you (Hunter) plus another $15,000 or so to people who voted against you (Oemig and Kelley) because they're the best thing you've got these days, seems a little desperate to us.
Today's Winners: Democratic State Senators Chris Marr and Claudia Kauffman
These two voted the WEA's way and got about $25,000 collectively in union support this week.
The WEA also spent about $5,000 opposing Marr's and Kauffman's GOP rivals, Michael Baumgartner and Joe Fain respectively.
The WEA spent some serious cash on independent expenditures this week to help vulnerable Democratic state legislators.
Three of the five—State Sen. Eric Oemig and state Reps. Ross Hunter and Troy Kelley—got nearly $25,000 combined in support from the teachers' union. (Not to mention that the union spent over $4,000 on opposing Oemig's and Kelley's opponents.)
We checked up on how those three voted on the 2009 education reform bill, which the WEA vehemently opposed because they said it unfarily upped education standards, but provided no funding.
Turns out, both Kelley and Oemig voted for it. Hunter we already knew about: He led the fight for it. (Plus, we've got Oemig on the record saying he supports charter schools , a big taboo for the WEA).
Gotta say, doling out a $9,000 independent expenditure for the guy who led the fight against you (Hunter) plus another $15,000 or so to people who voted against you (Oemig and Kelley) because they're the best thing you've got these days, seems a little desperate to us.
Today's Winners: Democratic State Senators Chris Marr and Claudia Kauffman
These two voted the WEA's way and got about $25,000 collectively in union support this week.
The WEA also spent about $5,000 opposing Marr's and Kauffman's GOP rivals, Michael Baumgartner and Joe Fain respectively.
