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Tag: Tomcats

The MEA, Richardville, and a Flower's Petal

By JGillman, Section News
Posted on Fri Jul 15, 2011 at 09:30:53 AM EST
Tags: Freedom to Work, Michigan, Randy Richardville, MEA, School Unions, Bullies, Lawbreakers, IRS, 501(c)(5), Right-To-Work, Tomcats (all tags)

Michigan Senate majority leader Randy Richardville has no friends in the MEA. While attempting to walk the fence line between "I'm a Republican" and "I don't want labor unions mad at me", Randy Richardville is finding himself targeted by the latter with rotten tomatoes and old shoes like a singing tomcat on that fence.

The MEA would toss them at anyone.

Self serving labor organizations (are there any others?) have no friends outside of their official ranks. Those high paying union jobs (not those of the teachers, etc) and top management positions require careful farming of available taxpayer provided resources. In fact, a 2009 report by Paul Kersey at the Mackinac center shows its overhead and operating is TWICE what the bargaining costs:

MEA is a bloated organization. According to our calculations, 25.6 percent of the union's budget went to representation, compared to 57.3 percent for overhead. This is actually an improvement from the 2006-2007 report, which showed just 22 percent going to representation. Nevertheless, MEA still spends more than twice as much on overhead than it does on representing teachers. That's the exact opposite of what one would find in reasonably well-run non-profit.

Those folks making high dollars as seen in the actual financial statement for the MEA have good reason to protect it. They are certainly "forward looking" folks who, at least for themselves are looking at their giant pensions being affected by the Snyder pension loopholes being changed.

So they had to respond, and the Tomcat on the fence as I pointed out, stands out in full contrast to the moon's glow. The worn soles are flying, and the MEA is tossing them. By attempting to recall the majority leader Richardville and others:

The Monroe resident leading the recall drive against Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville said the Michigan Education Association notified him today the teachers union will support the effort.
"I was grateful," Ernie Whiteside said. "It certainly will be easier to increase our volunteer group by working officially through the MEA leadership."
Whiteside said Doug Pratt, MEA's director of public affairs, called him today to give him the news.

Except there may be a problem.

More Below ~

(4 comments, 792 words in story) Full Story