The American Federation of Teachers and six other organizations are hosting a conference at Georgetown University this weekend entitled “In Defense of the Public Square.”
“As attacks on the public sector and its workers increase, economic inequality widens and an avalanche of money in the political system undermines fairness, the ideal of a public square is itself under assault,” a press release the union sent to The Daily Caller explained.
The “avalanche of money in the political system” which “undermines fairness” comes from a host of super PACs and other groups. Chief among these organizations is the American Federation of Teachers.
In 2014 alone, the American Federation of Teachers spent $19,499,848 to influence federal, state and municipal elections across the United States, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
The teachers union contributed $13,766,703 to 527 various committees — tax-exempt groups which exist almost exclusively to sway elections.
The top recipient of the teachers union’s cash was its very own 527 group, AFT Solidarity, which received $13,300,173.
Other groups receiving the teachers union’s cash include EMILY’s List Non-Federal and American Bridge 21st Century. EMILY’s List is a group dedicated to expanding abortion rights. American Bridge 21st Century specializes in digging dirt on Republican candidates for the benefit of Democratic candidates.
Out of $2,089,720 the union contributed directly to candidates, $21,000 — 0.01 percent — went to Republicans. Thus, 99.99 percent rest went to Democrats.
The keynote speaker at the “In Defense of the Public Square” conference at Georgetown is Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Weingarten, a frequent critic of economic inequality, makes at least $360,000 per year. (RELATED: Teachers Union Fat Cat Lives In America’s Top 1 Percent, Blames Baltimore Riots On INEQUALITY)
Her salary puts her squarely in the top 1 percent of all Americans. She brings home $30,000 each month — or about $7,500 per week, or $1,500 per workday. By way of comparison, a typical American elementary school teacher earns $56,130 annually. (RELATED: Randi Weingarten Is Really Sad She Makes $326,300 More Than A Typical Preschool Teacher, You Guys)
E.J. Dionne, an op-ed columnist at The Washington Post will offer closing remarks at the conference. The owner of the Post is Jeff Bezos, who has an estimated net worth of $38.3 billion. (RELATED: Teachers Union Wants To Amend Constitution To Limit EVERYONE ELSE’S Campaign Speech)
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