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Teachers’ Unions Increase Support for Planned Parenthood

By January 18, 2018June 13th, 2019Featured, What's New

Roe v. Wade after 45 years:

Despite recent controversies, NEA/AFT increase funding of Planned Parenthood

David Schmus
Executive Director
Christian Educators Association International

After 45 years and over 60 million abortions since Roe v. Wade, there has been progress in efforts to protect the innocent lives of unborn children in America, including court rulings that have allowed states to put greater restrictions on abortion, and campaigns like 40 Days for Life fighting spiritual battles in prayer to close down abortion clinics.

How are educators involved in this struggle? In 2015, horrific allegations about Planned Parenthood selling the body parts of aborted babies for profit led me to research whether or not public schools teachers’ union dues were part of the story. Sure enough, I found that almost $800,000 found its way from the National Educators Association (NEA) to Planned Parenthood during the 2014 election cycle.

There has been another another election cycle since then, and I was curious whether the NEA was continuing to send money to causes which many educators find objectionable.

What I found was that not only has the funding of Planned Parenthood continued, but has actually increased!

Teachers unions, like the NEA or American Federation of Teachers (AFT), often do not make contributions directly to Planned Parenthood, rather they disguise support by donating money to groups like Priorities USA or America Votes. These organizations and their super PACs spread that money around to further an often immoral political agenda, including support for abortion.

However, I was shocked to discover that in 2016, the AFT dispensed with this disguise and sent $350,000 of teachers union dues directly to Planned Parenthood!*

Consistent with previous practices however, there were still plenty of disguised contributions. During the 2016 election cycle, the NEA took the union dues of educators and sent just over $1 million to Priorities USA, and another $768,000 to America Votes (The NEA was America Votes’ largest contributor). The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) sent an astonishing $2.5 million to Priorities USA.

What did Priorities USA and America Votes do with this money? Once again, Planned Parenthood was a major recipient. Priorities USA sent them $2,291,790, and America Votes contributed $170,000.

Think about it this way: During the 2016 election cycle, teachers union dues contributed just over $4.25 million to a specific pool of money, and out of that pool Planned Parenthood received just shy of $2.5 million. And that doesn’t even count the $350,000 that AFT sent directly! Once again, union dues paid by teachers who love children are being funneled to an organization that not only violently ends their lives, but apparently has made profit off their body parts.

So despite the 2015 controversy, the following election cycle saw even more of hard-working teachers’ union dues go to Planned Parenthood.

If you are a pro-life Christian educator who belongs to the NEA or AFT, you have options. Consider membership in Christian Educators Association International as an alternative. You will be protected by professional liability insurance, job action protection, and an organization that stands behind you with a Biblical worldview, all for typically a fraction of the cost of union membership. And very importantly—none of your money will go to political candidates or organizations.

Would you join me in praying for God’s help to end the taking of innocent human lives through abortion in our nation?

*Credit: Center for Responsive Politics

8 Comments

  • Louise Allen says:

    I am a retired member of CEAI. When I thought, Washington state required dues for NEA to be automatically taken from my paycheck. Is there a way around this? Can you publicize this & help teachers not to have their pockets picked by the NEA. Thank you!

    • David Schmus says:

      Yes, there is a way around this! First, even in forced union states like Washington, you can become a religious objector or an agency fee/fair share payer. The National Right to Work Committee has some great information on that here: http://www.nrtw.org/your-rights-teacher. But secondly, the Janus case will be heard by the Supreme Court in late February that will hopefully make all states ‘right to work’ for government employees like public school educators. We expect a favorable ruling in Janus in June. So next school year, teachers will just simply to have to resign their unions with a simple letter, and join CEAI to keep their coverages in place! If anyone wants help getting out of their union, they can contact us at [email protected].

  • Joyce Setter says:

    Are teachers in all 50 states allowed to opt out of NEA or AFT & instead join CEAI? If so, more info explaining how to do this would be helpful?
    A Retired Life Member

  • Donald G Clark says:

    David,

    Thank you for continuing to share the truth in education via CEAI and thank you and the many prayers you are offering in your prayer closet that none but God sees or hears. weary not in well doing. I am so glad NEA and AFT are not active in the district where I have served for almost 40 years.

    Awesome article. Keep sharing the truth, even when it seems no or few are listening. God hears your heart and the heart of this organization. You both will be rewarded openly

  • David Schmus says:

    Blessings to you Don! I love knowing that you have our backs in prayer. =)

  • Jocelyn winn says:

    Yes I’ve been a victim as well…
    Although I am a new retiree, I wish I would have known back then what I know now.

  • Carol Montag says:

    Thanks for keeping us informed of the truth !!! I’ve been a member of Christian Educators for years!! So glad I have a clear conscience about my money not supporting a liberal agenda. I want to be God- honoring in all my ways.