By Mike Myslinski
The idea of publicly funded elections deserves to be debated, but Proposition 89 on the November ballot is a poorly crafted initiative that is full of unintended consequences, one of which is possibly silencing California teachers’ political voices on education issues.
“This initiative would severely limit CTA’s ability to participate in statewide and legislative campaigns and reduce our ability to influence issues that directly impact public schools and the teaching profession,” says CTA President Barbara E. Kerr. “That includes, of course, funding for students, education policy and teachers’ retirement issues in Sacramento.”
Prop. 89 aims to place strict limits on what corporations and organizations can contribute, but does nothing to stop rich individuals from contributing whatever they please to their own campaigns or ballot measures. Under Prop. 89, wealthy anti-public school activists, like voucher proponent Tim Draper, would be able to run campaigns with unlimited funds, while CTA would be restricted to spending $10,000.
CTA has joined the diverse “Californians to Stop 89” coalition, which includes other unions like the California Federation of Teachers, California State Council of Laborers, International Union of Operating Engineers (Locals 3 and 12), Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, Stationary Engineers (Locals 39 and 501), and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324.
Prop. 89 would create an uneven playing field by attempting to shut out certain groups from the political process, like small businesses, labor unions and nonprofit organizations.
For more information, visit the website [www.noprop89.org].