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MTA PAC September,
2003 What is VOTE?
(Voice of Teachers for Education)
VOTE (Voice
of Teachers for Education) is MTA's Political Action
Committee (PAC). Contributions to VOTE from MTA members
make it possible for MTA to contribute to candidates
who will stand up for public education. Your
dues dollars are not used to make direct contributions
to candidates.
Massachusetts' campaign finance
laws limit the amount of support MTA can directly give
to candidates. It also restricts who can solicit political
contributions. For example, the law not only
prohibits public employees from soliciting political
contributions from anyone, it also prohibits anyone
from soliciting political contributions in any public
building, such as in schools and on college campuses. Therefore,
you and your colleagues, because you are public employees,
are legally prohibited from asking for contributions
to VOTE anytime and anywhere, and no one (public employee
or not) can ask for a contribution at school or on
a public college campus.
These restrictions offer
a significant challenge to devising effective ways
for MTA to raise funds for VOTE. Some options
include fundraising events at MTA's Annual Meeting,
off school/campus site meetings with MTA staff or MTA
retirees soliciting and collecting contributions and
telemarketing efforts.
MTA's Candidate Recommendation
Committee (CRC), which is separate from VOTE, consists
of two MTA members elected by their colleagues from
each of the ten congressional districts. The
CRC determines which candidates receive MTA's recommendation
for election to statewide and legislative offices.
By
pooling the contributions of MTA members, VOTE can
give educators a stronger voice and more of an impact
than they would have by contributing individually
to candidates for elected office.
On Friday, September 20th
2002,
the MCCC Board of Directors voted to create a Political
Action
Committee or PAC...
To contribute to the MCCC
PAC ...please send donations to:
Phil Kennedy, PAC Treasurer
MCCC
27-29 Mechanics St
Suite 104
Worcester, MA 01608 |
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