Romney: Teacher contributions to politicians should be limited

(CBS News) Republican nominee Mitt Romney said Tuesday that Democratic politicians have a conflict of interest in dealing with teacher unions because the unions contribute so heavily to their campaigns. He suggested that money should somehow be diverted or cut off, although he did not offer details.

Speaking in New York at Education Nation, a forum sponsored by NBC, Romney told interviewer Brian Williams that he is not necessarily against a right to strike. "I don't know that I would prevent teachers from being able to strike," he said, adding later that "allowing teachers to strike on matters such as compensation I think is a right that exists in this country."

The bigger problem, Romney said, is that "the person sitting across the table from them should not have received the largest campaign contribution from the teachers union themselves ... [It's] an extraordinary conflict of interest and something that should be addressed."

He later added that "we simply can't have" elected officials who have received large contributions from teachers sitting across from them at the bargaining table "supposedly" to represent the interests of children. "I think it's a mistake," Romney said. "I think we have to get the money out of the teachers unions going into campaigns. It's the wrong way for us to go. We've got to separate that."

The problem is broader than teacher unions, Romney said, but they are the issue when it comes to Democrats. "I don't mean to be terribly partisan but I kinda am," he said to laughter.

Romney was dismissive when a New York City school board member, also a parent, said city parents support the union to protect their kids three-to-one over the mayor and chancellor. "They believe actually that the unions are fighting for our kids," the man said. "This is not coming from me, this is coming from a poll of parents."

"I don't believe it for a minute," Romney said. "I know something about polls and I know you can ask questions to get any answer you want."

Romney attended an expensive private school, Cranbrook, when he was growing up in Michigan, and Williams asked him whether all kids deserve that kind of education. "That's not going to be available for the entire nation," Romney said. But he said that "a dollar number" doesn't always equate to an effective teacher and "I know that there are teachers in the public system who are every bit as good as those in the private system."

It's more important to focus on attracting and promoting good teachers, measuring student performance and giving students incentives to do well, Romney said. "We have proven that sending a lot of money to failed schools to pay the same teachers to do the same things will not make any difference," he said.

[seapeople2]

he accepts money from gambling mogals and ceos who threaten to fire their employees if they vote for a candidate they do not like.
but, he has a problem with organizations that represent the average person making political contributions.
that he is gaining in the polls, makes you wonder about the electorate.

[sleepergirl]

Good grief! There aren't many, if at all, conservatives commenting on the CBS site. I can't imagine why not. Anyway I would go even further and make it illegal for all public sector unions to comtribute to political campaigns. Public unions contribute to get mostly Democrats elected, who turn around after election and negotiate salary and benefits with TAXPAYER money. This is a blatant and corrupt money-laundering operation. So no public union contributions to campaigns. Private unions are entirely different. They are not paid by public money.

[tonedesign]

Teachers, like policemen, firemen and other public workers, pay their union dues with money they EARNED - not "tax-payer dollars," you idiot. Go back to sleep. Maybe when you wake up, your brain will as well, though from the sheer stupidity of your post, I doubt it.

[bungalowbillo]

Let me get this straight. Mitt, even under Citizens United, would set limits on teacher (and their barginning units) contributions to political races because they have to later sit and negotiate with those who may have received their money? Maybe I lost something in the translation from Romneyspeak back into English. In Romney's world it's OK for the Koch brothers to masquerade as a grass roots, down home, God-bless-America-and-apple-pie organization like Restore Our Future to promote their wishes through duplicity, smoke and mirrors or for a group like Restore our Future to take a similar tact, or for an organization like Alec to push their agendas through members who actually serve in state houses and the US Congress, or for someone like Grover (the unelected) Norquist to have his no tax contract, but teachers should have the amount of money they can contribute to the political discussion limited to, to what? To what Romney reasons it to be? Or Norquist's or ALEC or AFP? This guy has lost his mind.

[Eco99]

Yep but he will still allow members of company's affected by legislation read and comment on the legislation before it is put to vote. Hypocrite's.

[368lynn]

Based on what another reader commented about Chicago teachers salaries -I was interested in how Chicago teachers salaries stacked up when viewed against other college graduates salaries and this is what I turned up:

The average starting salary for 2011 (college) graduates was $41,701, up 2.3% from the average salary in 2010, according to a new survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

While average salaries rose across every discipline last year, a large gap remains between the highest and lowest earners.
The top earners of the Class of 2011 were engineering students, who were raking in average starting salaries of $61,872 upon graduation -- a 1.5% increase from the previous year. Computer engineering majors were the highest-paid of that bunch, bringing in a whopping $70,400 a year.

The lowest-paid graduates majored in Humanities and Social Science disciplines like criminal justice, English and psychology, earning an average salary of $35,503.
Graduates in the education field didn't earn a whole lot more, receiving an average salary of $37,830. Special education majors, however, saw salaries increase 2.9% in 2011, bringing the average salary for that particular major up to $39,100. ?

From http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/12/pf/college/salaries/index.htm

A bit of a diversion, but still interesting.

[yu1832]

Mitt Romney made 42 million in 2010 and 21 million in 2011. Have you wondered how did Mitt Romney get so rich? Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, explains it in a 3-minute video. Go to Youtube and search for


How Did Mitt Romney Get So Rich? Robert Reich Explains


Bain's Goal was not to grow companies, but to 'Harvest' companies for profit. If you don't believe me, watch Romney's 1985 speech at Bain as he outlined the business model of Bain. Search Youtube for

Mitt Romney on Bain's plan to buy and harvest companies

After watching the video, I felt Romney was not a job creator, as he tries to convince the public. Instead, he was a vulture capitalist, destroying jobs to drain everything out of the business. The well of greed has no bottom.

Your comment or criticism is welcome, but please watch the video before you reply.

[Eco99]

In short he was flipping companies not creating jobs other than the employees of Bain. By that argument regulations are job creators as companies have to hire people to keep the company compliant but you will NEVER hear them say that.

[Hutterite]

I will support any restriction on teacher contributions and union contributions as long as those restrictions apply to every individual, business and other entity in the land. No union shall be entitled to give more than the NRA.

[ludvig1-2009]

Mitt romney quote earlier in the year "We don't need any more firemen or cops or teachers."

[Eco99]

GOP = Hypocrite

Do as I say not as I do, etc.

They will do anything to secure their hold on America and promote Corporatism. Wake up America.

[Go_for_it]

And while you are at it Mitt, will you also propose to ban Citizen United and all of the Super Pacs that have been trying to buy the election for you?

Robme lives in a sel serving myopic world of self indulgence

[waninahi1]

He sure hasn't turned down the mega-millions from Wall Street cronies, nor banker buddies! If the teachers wanted to give HIM a buck, you can bet your life Romulus would take every one! He asked "Why don't they like me?" Maybe it's the way he attacks people who don't quite fit into his cliche? Maybe it's they way he & his team have attacked the journalists who dared ask him about his religion, his selling Damon Clinical Laboratories days before it was indicted & fined over $35 million for defrauding Medicare. In 1994 Romney said he was "proud of the small part I played in the growth of Damon', but not anymore! Some things, most things, Romney just will not tolerate having a light shined on by ANY reporter! He has a lot to keep under wraps. How much tax he paid, how much money he had in foreign banks, when he really left Bain,& no way will he talk about becoming a 'god', ruling his own universe! Mittens is in a world of his own.

[BsPoppy]

Are you sure they tied the dog to the top of the car and not Mitt the mutt? I can see his jowels flappin in da wind!