Justices receive political contributions from lead party in charter school lawsuit - By Liv Finne New research finds that some justices on the state supreme court have received political contributions from a lead party in a key lawsuit now before the court. Parties in the case, League of Women Voters, Washington Education Association, et al vs State of Washington, are asking the court to strike down Washington’s charter school law, passed by voters in 2012, and bar children from attending a charter public school. Charter schools are community-based public schools that operate independently of central district management. They are tuition-free and open to all students. In Washington, charter schools are designed to help poor families and children underserved by traditional schools. Charter schools are popular with low-income parents who see education as the path to a better future for their children. Demand far exceeds supply. While 10 charter schools are set to open, the Charter School Commission this year rejected applications from 12 community charter school groups, leaving 4,900 children to wait for a future round of approvals. A lead plaintiff in the suit, the Washington Education Association (WEA) union, has made campaign donations to four justices seeking re-election this year. Justices serve six year terms. WEA union executives say they want the court to close current charter schools and stop new ones from opening. Public Disclosure Commission reports show four justices received maximum campaign contributions from the WEA union in 2014. Justice Mary I. Yu – $1,900 from WEA Political Action Committee. Justice Mary E. Fairhurst – $1,900 from Washington Education Association. Justice Charles W. Johnson – $1,900 from WEA Political Action Committee. Justice Debra L. Stephens – $1,900 from WEA Political Action Committee. State disclosure reports show three other justices received maximum political contributions from the WEA union for their own election campaigns in 2012. Justice Susan J. Owens – $1,800 from Washington Education Association. Justice Stephen C. Gonzalez – $1,800 from WEA Political Action Committee. Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud – $1,800 from WEA Political Action Committee. Additional contributions were made by unions that oppose allowing children to attend a charter school. Reports show Justices Fairhurst, Johnson, Stephens, Owens, Gonzalez, and McCloud received political contributions from Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and Washington Federation of State Employees. Separately, the court has retained jurisdiction in the McCleary v. State of Washington, a public education spending case in which executives at the WEA union hold a strong financial and political interest. WEA executives have spent about $4 million pursuing the case. The justices heard oral arguments in the charter school case on October 28th. A ruling is expected in the coming weeks, most likely after election day. This report is part of WPC’s I-1240 Follow-up Project
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 18:52:47 +0000
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