Post by Vanessa Riley on Jun 21, 2012 16:57:41 GMT -5
Did you know that TSTA has a dedicated committee of members who gather annually and decide which political candidates deserve our endorsement? Did you know our local affiliate has endorsed School Board members, local politicians, and even national political figures? It's true.
As part of the largest union in the world, TSTA and NEA have considerable power of persuasion in the political arena. Our positive endorsement means a lot to many people and our negative endorsement can end campaigns. The topic of education reform, privatization, and standardized testing are all hotly debated right now. These issues affect our jobs and the politicians we elect as a society affect these issues.
That's why TSTA has a Political Action Committee.
What is PAC?
PAC is a group of members, appointed by their regional presidents, who meet with TSTA President, Vice President, and the Director of Public Affairs as well as the Government Relations Specialists. Every TSTA region in TX has a seat at the table and appoints 1 member to represent their interests on this committee. Jessica Powell (from Conroe TSTAA) is Region 3D's PAC representative. She travels to Austin annually to work with a group from around the state to review the platforms of almost every candidate in regional and state-wide races, including the State Board of Education. After discussing each incumbent's contributions to Public Education, the PAC discusses the opponents running in those elections as well. Each candidate is given the opportunity to submit a questionnaire with their answers to our questions. These questionnaires are required if a candidate would like to receive a monetary contribution from TSTA. *It is important to note that some candidates will not and have never returned a TSTA questionnaire*
In addition to the volunteer committee of regional members, TSTA has a full-time staff of 4 or 5 individuals who attend legislative hearings and open sessions regularly at the Capitol. We also have a director of these affairs who lobbies with our local politicians in effort to gain favor with these elected leaders. Republican or Democrat doesn't matter because TSTA holds our leaders to their word when it comes to public education. If they tell us they will act on our behalf, we hold them accountable for their promises.
Why should YOU contribute to PAC?
So far this year, TSTA PAC has appropriated over $100,000 in contributions to about 50 political figures around the state. Each one of those candidates has promised to act on the behalf of educators or their past actions have shown us that they are with us in this fight to Save Texas Schools. This money can be used for mailers, signs, TV ads, billboards, travel expenses for public appearances. And publicity works when it comes to elections.
Currently, less than 1% of TSTA members are continuing contributors. That means that less than 1,000 members give a monthly contribution to the PAC fund. Some of these members give $1 and some give close to $100 a month. They each have chosen to give an amount they feel comfortable with.
If EVERY member in TSTA would dedicate just ONE DOLLAR a month, imagine how much money we could raise to have people like Rob Eissler ousted from the political arena? The chair of the House Public Education Committee has so often thrown Texas schools under the bus when it was important that he has become one of Texas educators' worst enemies. That one dollar could help keep Vicki Truitt (R-District 98) voting to protect our pensions as the chair of the House Pension, Investments, Financial Services Committee.
We will never be able to lobby for education the same way the Oil & Gas industry lobbies for its interests, but if we could get just $1 per member per month, imagine how much greater our influence would be in Texas politics!
How can I contribute to PAC?
If you want to become a continuing contributor to PAC, email Vanessa Riley(lochnessriley@gmail.com) and ask for a PAC card. She'll need a voided check returned with this card. There are different levels of contribution and there are different cards for "professional" staff and ESP staff. If professional staff signs up for $10/mo contribution, they will receive a PAC shirt in the mail. If ESP staff signs up for $5/mo, they will receive a shirt as well.
If you don't want or can't contribute at those levels, there is an option on each PAC card to contribute "other" amount. You can simply write in $1 on that card, attach a voided check, and return to Vanessa Riley via interoffice mail or to your campus AR.
Not ever person is political. That's okay. But if you work in Public Education right now, your job depends on politics. I implore you to know who is running for each office in your district and how they stand on public education. $5.4 billion in cuts hurts.
As part of the largest union in the world, TSTA and NEA have considerable power of persuasion in the political arena. Our positive endorsement means a lot to many people and our negative endorsement can end campaigns. The topic of education reform, privatization, and standardized testing are all hotly debated right now. These issues affect our jobs and the politicians we elect as a society affect these issues.
That's why TSTA has a Political Action Committee.
What is PAC?
PAC is a group of members, appointed by their regional presidents, who meet with TSTA President, Vice President, and the Director of Public Affairs as well as the Government Relations Specialists. Every TSTA region in TX has a seat at the table and appoints 1 member to represent their interests on this committee. Jessica Powell (from Conroe TSTAA) is Region 3D's PAC representative. She travels to Austin annually to work with a group from around the state to review the platforms of almost every candidate in regional and state-wide races, including the State Board of Education. After discussing each incumbent's contributions to Public Education, the PAC discusses the opponents running in those elections as well. Each candidate is given the opportunity to submit a questionnaire with their answers to our questions. These questionnaires are required if a candidate would like to receive a monetary contribution from TSTA. *It is important to note that some candidates will not and have never returned a TSTA questionnaire*
In addition to the volunteer committee of regional members, TSTA has a full-time staff of 4 or 5 individuals who attend legislative hearings and open sessions regularly at the Capitol. We also have a director of these affairs who lobbies with our local politicians in effort to gain favor with these elected leaders. Republican or Democrat doesn't matter because TSTA holds our leaders to their word when it comes to public education. If they tell us they will act on our behalf, we hold them accountable for their promises.
Why should YOU contribute to PAC?
So far this year, TSTA PAC has appropriated over $100,000 in contributions to about 50 political figures around the state. Each one of those candidates has promised to act on the behalf of educators or their past actions have shown us that they are with us in this fight to Save Texas Schools. This money can be used for mailers, signs, TV ads, billboards, travel expenses for public appearances. And publicity works when it comes to elections.
Currently, less than 1% of TSTA members are continuing contributors. That means that less than 1,000 members give a monthly contribution to the PAC fund. Some of these members give $1 and some give close to $100 a month. They each have chosen to give an amount they feel comfortable with.
If EVERY member in TSTA would dedicate just ONE DOLLAR a month, imagine how much money we could raise to have people like Rob Eissler ousted from the political arena? The chair of the House Public Education Committee has so often thrown Texas schools under the bus when it was important that he has become one of Texas educators' worst enemies. That one dollar could help keep Vicki Truitt (R-District 98) voting to protect our pensions as the chair of the House Pension, Investments, Financial Services Committee.
We will never be able to lobby for education the same way the Oil & Gas industry lobbies for its interests, but if we could get just $1 per member per month, imagine how much greater our influence would be in Texas politics!
How can I contribute to PAC?
If you want to become a continuing contributor to PAC, email Vanessa Riley(lochnessriley@gmail.com) and ask for a PAC card. She'll need a voided check returned with this card. There are different levels of contribution and there are different cards for "professional" staff and ESP staff. If professional staff signs up for $10/mo contribution, they will receive a PAC shirt in the mail. If ESP staff signs up for $5/mo, they will receive a shirt as well.
If you don't want or can't contribute at those levels, there is an option on each PAC card to contribute "other" amount. You can simply write in $1 on that card, attach a voided check, and return to Vanessa Riley via interoffice mail or to your campus AR.
Not ever person is political. That's okay. But if you work in Public Education right now, your job depends on politics. I implore you to know who is running for each office in your district and how they stand on public education. $5.4 billion in cuts hurts.