Editor’s note: This story is a follow-up to MEA Concedes Large Percentage of ‘Conservative’ Teachers, Endorses 97% Democrats.
The Michigan Education Association appears to have doubled its number of recommended Republican candidates for the Michigan Legislature and Congress from three to six less than a week after Michigan Capitol Confidential pointed out that state’s teachers union had recommended voting overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates (see www.MichCapCon.com/13758).
The MEA “recommended” 111 Democratic candidates for 114 races in its October magazine. The three Republicans were Michigan House candidates Mike Callton of Nashville and Peter MacGregor of Rockford, and state Sen. Roger Kahn of Saginaw.
Michigan Capitol Confidential’s article highlighted the highly partisan recommendations of 97 percent appeared to conflict with National Education Association president Dennis Van Roekel’s message of non-partisanship when tackling school issues.
The MEA’s October magazine also included a NEA survey that 45 percent of teachers under 30 classified themselves as conservative and 63 percent of teachers age 40 to 49 classified themselves as conservative. The MEA represents more than 157,000 teachers, faculty and education support staff.
It appears MEA updated its “recommended candidates” list on Friday to include incumbent Republican Congressman Fred Upton of St. Joseph, and state Sen. Mike Nofs of Battle Creek, and Bradford Jacobsen, who is running for the 46th district in the state House of Representatives.
The MEA recommendations were lasted updated Oct. 22, 2010 according to its web site.
Steve Sachs, campaign manager for Nofs, didn’t know about the MEA endorsement when first contacted by Michigan Capitol Confidential early Friday afternoon. He later checked and confirmed that they were notified recently.
“They just literally made the announcement today or late last night,” Sachs said.
Doug Pratt, MEA Spokesman, didn’t return an e-mail seeking comment.
The original version of this story was posted online on Oct. 23, 2010.
Tight security locked out dozens of anti-right-to-work protesters from the State Capitol as Governor Snyder was delivering his "State of the State" address. Protesters tried to disrupt the speech by banging and chanting outside the building.
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FROM MICHIGAN HOME HELP PROGRAM PROVIDERS — OFTEN FAMILY MEMBERS
ATTORNEY GENERAL ORDERED THE STATE TO STOP TAKING MONEY ON MAY 25, 2012
opinion May 25, 2012
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) "organized” Michigan's self-employed Home Help Program providers for the purpose of skimming dues from their ailing and disabled clients' Medicaid subsidy checks. The majority of these providers are relatives or friends taking care of loved ones. It’s been estimated that less than 25 percent of the providers are hired in an employment setting.
The first counter tallies SEIU dues skimmed since the union and state officials first launched this scheme in late 2006. The second shows the amount skimmed since June 9, 2011, when the Michigan House passed and sent to the Senate a bill to ban this and all similar “stealth unionization” efforts. The third counter shows the dues skimmed since the Governor signed the bill into law on April 10, 2012. The fourth counter shows the amount skimmed since May 25, 2012, when the Attorney General opinion was announced.
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