Teachers' Union May Have Violated Federal Tax Law By Coordinating Campaign Activities With Democrats

HERNDON, Va., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Landmark Legal Foundation made public today the most explosive tax complaint ever filed against the National Education Association (NEA). Landmark's complaint, which was filed with the Internal Revenue Service on July 20, 2001, provides new evidence not only of the NEA's use of millions of dollars of tax-exempt funds for political purposes, but its extensive campaign coordination activities with the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Landmark's complaint includes evidence provided to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), including responses by the DNC and Clinton-Gore '96, to FEC subpoenas. The FEC released this information to the public on May 2, 2001, but four days later placed the evidence under seal. Landmark secured copies of this evidence during the first 48-hours of its public release. Landmark's complaint provides overwhelming evidence of the NEA's political activities, including its key role as a member of the so-called "Coordinated Campaign Steering Committee," which set national and statewide campaign strategy for the election of Democratic candidates. In addition to the NEA and the DNC, other members of the Steering Committee were the 1996 Clinton- Gore Campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors' Association, the Democratic Leadership Campaign Committee, the AFL-CIO, and Emily's List. Landmark's complaint also reveals the involvement of the NEA's state affiliates in coordinating campaign activity with Democratic congressional candidates. "The extent to which the NEA and its state affiliates have coordinated their political activities with the Democratic Party, and have used millions of dollars in tax-exempt general revenues to support these activities, is truly breathtaking. The evidence Landmark is making public today demonstrates that the NEA has become an appendage of the Democratic Party, complete with an ATM machine that dispenses tax-exempt membership dues to underwrite that party's political activities. The NEA has concealed these activities from America's teachers, the public and the IRS. But the information is concealed no longer." Landmark's complaint is the latest phase of the Foundation's 5-year investigation and legal research into potential violations of federal tax and election laws by the NEA and its state affiliates. Landmark also filed complaints with the IRS last year about the union's political activities and expenditures in earlier election cycles.

Founded in 1976, Landmark Legal Foundation has among its top missions the promotion of education reform. Landmark has defended school choice in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Landmark has offices in Kansas City, MO and Herndon, VA.

-- Anonymous, July 27, 2001