Teachers Union Should Support Prop. 89
By Jean Rains, Letter to the Editor
As a public school teacher and CTA member, I was deeply
disappointed to read that a CTA spokesperson announced that
CTA was opposing Prop. 89, the California Clean Money and
Fair Elections Act.
I frankly do not believe that the CTA is failing to support
the proposition because it is "poorly crafted." The CTA,
like any other power player, doesn't want to take the
chance that it would lose power if a fairer, more
inclusive, less corrupting political system replaced our
old pay-to-play system.
I'm a union member, and a union supporter. I'm on the phone
with the rest of the teachers when we have to work against
legislation that would be harmful to students and teachers.
But by opposing Prop. 89, the CTA is jeopardizing an
opportunity to bring some fairness into our political
process.
The California League of Women Voters and the California
Nurses Association support this proposition. Arizona and
Maine have adopted Clean Money reforms, and since then
Maine has been the first state to adopt a form of universal
health care. Majorities of candidates in both states are
now running as "clean" candidates, because the public does
not want to vote for candidates who are obligated to big
money donors. Clean Money reforms have already proven that
they support a more equitable political process.
Today, in Arizona and Maine, more women, minorities, and
working class people are running for office and winning. We
teachers cannot let the CTA make up our minds for us on
this important issue. Go to http://www.CAclean.org to get
informed and to see a 14-minute special report by Bill
Moyers. And contact the CTA to ask them to rethink their
decision. They could make or break it. Don't let them break
it.
Jean Rains, teacher
Longwood Elementary School
See the article on Oakland Tribune website