U.S. Newswire, August 17, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Today the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) joined a broad coalition of policy organizations to file an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to accept review of the Washington v. Washington Education Association case.

"The Court's action -- or inaction -- will significantly influence how states debate unions' stranglehold over workers. It's important that teachers are free to work without worrying about losing their hard-earned money to political activities they do not support," said Matt Warner, ALEC's Education Task Force Director. "The Court has a duty to public schoolteachers to not only hear this case but to overturn the Washington Supreme Court ruling."

When then-Attorney General Christine Gregoire sued the Washington Education Association (WEA) in 2001 for admitted, intentional violations of the law, the union was fined $590,375. But in March 2006, the Washington Supreme Court overturned the trial court, ruling that requiring unions to get permission was "too heavy an administrative burden." The Court agreed with the Washington Education Association's argument that once the union collects dues it is free to spend the money as it pleases.

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2006. The Supreme Court is expected to decide in October whether to take the case.

"If the WEA has the nerve to argue in trial court that it has no fiduciary responsibility to the teachers it represents, it's not difficult to imagine other responsibilities the union is dodging," said Warner. "Teachers unions should ask permission before spending nonmembers' money for political purposes."

The coalition includes Cascade Policy Institute (OR), Commonwealth Foundation (PA), Evergreen Freedom Foundation (WA), Excellent Education for Everyone (NJ), Georgia Public Policy, Grassroot Institute (HI), Independence Institute (CO), John Locke Foundation (NC), Mackinac Center for Public Policy (MI), Nevada Public Research Institute, Pacific Research Institute (CA), and Pioneer Institute (MA).

For additional information:

Read amicus brief: http://www.alec.org/meSWFiles/pdf/Education/WA_v_WEA_Amicus_brief.pdf

For facts on the case: http://www.teachers-v-union.org

To schedule an interview with Matt Warner, ALEC's Education Task Force Director, Stella Melley at 202-431-6461.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is the nation's largest nonpartisan, individual membership organization of state legislators, with over 2,400 legislator members from all fifty states, and 96 alumni members serving in the U.S. Congress.

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