Three complaints filed on Wednesday by the Freedom Foundation allege almost $1.5 million in Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) money, raised from teachers’ union dues, was given to the 2022 political campaign of Governor Josh Shapiro.
The Freedom Foundation revealed on Thursday it filed complaints which allege PSEA made two contributions, totaling about $1.475 million, that were then transferred through an outside organization before reaching the Shapiro for Pennsylvania campaign committee.
In their press release, the Freedom Foundation argued PSEA openly acknowledged its actions would be illegal in communications with its current and prospective members, but nonetheless made the donations.
According to the Freedom Foundation, PSEA donated $1.475 million from its general fund to the Fund for Student Success, a liberal political organization affiliated with the PSEA.
The Freedom Foundation claims that the Fund for Student Success then sent $1.475 million to the Democratic Governors Association, a national organization that seeks to help elect local Democrats.
According to the Freedom Foundation, that organization contributed $5.6 million to Shapiro’s 2022 campaign, including the $1.475 million generated from membership dues to the PSEA.
According to the complaints, the Fund for Student Success is one of two political organizations affiliated with PSEA, with the teachers union mostly focusing on its Political Action Committee for Education (PACE).
While PSEA-PACE has existed since 1968, the press release explains the Fund for Student Success was founded in 2018.
According to the Freedom Foundation press release, the only reference to the Fund for Student Success on the PSEA website promises the group “will not – and legally cannot – provide campaign contributions to candidates, elected officials, or campaign committees.”
Freedom Foundation Director of Research and Government Affairs Maxford Nelson described the process as money laundering in a statement.
“PSEA’s scheme to secretly launder nearly $1.5 million in members’ dues through the Democratic Governors Association to support Josh Shapiro’s 2022 candidacy appears to have violated both an array of Pennsylvania laws and the Internal Revenue Code,” alleged Nelson.
He added, “Pennsylvania teachers deserve to know that their union’s assurances that the dues deducted from their hard-earned paychecks aren’t being used to back political candidates are worth no more than a politician’s campaign promises.”
The Freedom Foundation filed complaints with Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, and the Tax-Exempt and Governmental Entities Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
While Shapiro is in his first term as Pennsylvania’s governor, the complaints were filed as he is reportedly among the final two vice presidential candidates under consideration by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Shapiro immediately backed Harris after President Joe Biden dropped his bid for a second term, and his selection could satisfy concerns from pro-Israel activists unhappy with the Biden administration’s handling of the conflict in Gaza that began after Hamas terrorists attacked on October 7, 2023.
It could also further alienate Muslim and pro-Palestine voters, including those represented by the Michigan-based Uncommitted National Movement that supported protests against Biden’s handling of the conflict and immediately voiced opposition to Shapiro’s possible selection.
Harris is also reportedly considering Arizona U.S. Senator Mark Kelly for the job. However, Kelly may have raised concerns from labor leaders about his lack of commitment to their legislative goals.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Josh Shapiro” by PSEA – PA State Education Association.
