Massachusetts teachers unions have contributed a staggering
$800,000 to defeat Gov. Paul Cellucci's income tax rollback initiative.
Records show that the group opposing the Question 4
measure -- the Campaign for Massachusetts' Future -- has raised $1.6 million though Oct. 20, making it one of the most
well-funded ballot question campaign groups this year.
But some are criticizing the fact that half of its revenue
is generated by underpaid, overworked teachers through their union.
"It's a shame that hard-working teachers are having their
union dues spent on this campaign," said John Brockelman, spokesman for the Tax Rollback Committee and executive director
of the Massachusetts Republican Party.
"What about the thousands of teachers who will vote yes on
Question 4 because they need the tax break?" he said.
Critics say many teachers are upset that their dues are
being used to keep the opposition group afloat.
Some teachers are Republicans and don't support the initiative; others just want a tax break.
But Jim St. George, spokesman for the opposition group, said
teachers have the right not to have their dues spent on a candidate or cause if they so choose.
He also said teachers oppose the measure because it would
siphon budget surplus away from school and education-improvement programs.
"Teachers are committed to good schools," he said. "They
made a commitment to the campaign and want the commonwealth to use its money wisely."
St. George declined to disclose how much money has been
raised since the last reporting date, 12 days ago. The group must make its next disclosure Monday.
St. George ripped Cellucci's defense of a tax cut that "will
mostly help the top 1 percent" of Bay State taxpayers.
He also pointed to the hundreds of thousands of dollars
contributed to Cellucci's tax rollback group by big corporations, such as John Hancock, and business leaders such
as Richard Egan.
A new anti-Question 4 ad campaign starts today, and it will
mention that U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy opposes the measure, Kennedy aides confirmed.
Cellucci has tangled with the powerful state teachers union
in the past over issues including teacher testing and accountability.
The governor's visible support of the rollback is seen by
some as an effort to solidify the Republicans as anti-tax as a host of Democrats line up as potential candidates in the 2002
gubernatorial election.