Saturday, January 14, 2012

N.C. Teachers Union Sues State Over Republican "Midnight Rendezvous"




The North Carolina Teacher’s Union (NCAE) sued the state because they no longer have a free accounting service paid for by the taxpayers. Of course, that’s not what their contention is in their suit, but that’s exactly what it is. Their official stance is that the House republican’s “midnight rendezvous” violated the state’s constitution, and impairs their rights to freedom of association and speech.

The union says state lawmakers went much further than that, violating the state constitution in the process. Shortly after 11 p.m. on the closing night of the special session, the Legislature decided to raise the issue of when it would next formally convene. An amendment proposed that they reconvene at midnight that very night to "consider a legislative override of any bill vetoed by Governor Perdue."

At 1:12 a.m. that morning, the House voted 69 to 45 to override the governor's veto of Senate Bill 727. Because the Senate had previously voted to override the veto, the House vote had the effect of enacting it into law.

The union says the lawmakers violated the North Carolina Constitution on its face, and that the law violates their union members' rights to free expression and association.It seeks a restraining order, immediate declaratory relief that the General Assembly's actions violated the state constitution, an injunction and costs.

Let’s take a look at the NCAE’s choice of association and speech as reported by the Civitas Institute:

2010 Contributions:

NCAE contributed $172,950 to candidates. Democrats received $170,650 in contributions (98.6 percent); Republicans received $2,300 in contributions (1.3 percent).

2008 Contributions


NEA and NCAE contributed $1.8 million to help Bev Perdue win the 2008 Governor’s race.
NEA spent another $1.7 million on campaign ads for Bev Perdue.







I would say the NCAE’s speech and association is limited in scope. It’s no wonder Governor Beverly Perdue vetoed that bill. Hell, look at all the money she received from this union. It must be nice to have your own little collection agency inside the state government; and all at the expense of the taxpayers. Nice! Is it any wonder the House republicans held a little “midnight rendezvous,” so as to put an end to this racket?

Here is my tribute to North Carolina’s House republicans. May you be as bold in the future as you are now.


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