Last month, I posted information about where the National Education Association spent $26 million of its members’ dues listed as “donations.” Just the other day, the largess of the country’s second largest teachers’ union, the American Federation of Teachers, was made available. Some of the groups receiving donations from AFT in 2008-2009 were ACORN, SEIU and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. Once again, teacher union watchdog, Mike Antonucci, has published this information in list form and it can be found at http://www.eiaonline.com/archives/20100208.htm

If you think the above is bad news, here is worse news – once again from Mike Antonucci. He makes a point, the importance of which cannot be exaggerated. On LM2s and elsewhere, we can find out just where the unions donate its members’ dues. What most people don’t realize is that they give far more than is commonly thought – only it is not listed under donations. For example, according to Antonucci, in the 2008 election cycle, “NEA dropped $260,000 on one of the many front groups operated by Craig Varoga and George Rakis, two men Fox News identifies as ‘Democratic Party strategists.’” This money is not listed under donations to advocacy groups. It is listed in their disclosure report “as expenses for media.” As Antonucci says, “…NEA’s advocacy spending extends well beyond the easily identifiable groups.” To read his entire post, go to http://www.eiaonline.com/intercepts/2010/02/10/union-sock-puppets-well-laundered/