TUITION TAX CREDITS AND POLITICAL ACTION

The Committee on Political Education was established as an official department of the American Federation of Teachers in 1974. Since the date of its inception, AFT/COPE has functioned with two principles as the basis for all of its activity. The first principle is a commitment to local autonomy and the second is a belief in the need for teachers' cooperation with other legitimate trade unions within the framework of the AFL-CIO.

The first principle was implemented when AFT/COPE developed its endorsement procedure. All endorsements for representatives and senators are made by the local, or locals, or state federations involved in the actual con­test. AFT/COPE is permitted to endorse candidates only when the appropriate affiliate body has recommended that endorsement or when that affiliate body has remained neutral and gives AFT/COPE permission to enter the race.

The second principle of AFT/COPE activity, that of cooperation with other unions within the AFL-CIO, has been realized on several different levels. First, AFT/COPE fulfills its financial obligations to support the joint political activity carried out in the name of AFL-CIO/COPE. Second, our locals are represented on city and state central labor council screening and endorsement committees. And, finally, the AFT's Legislative Department 7voting record always includes labor as well as educational issues.

During the 95th session of Congress, legislation was introduced which would have a devastating impact on the schools, and which, in fact, is more important to teachers than any other legislation. That legislation, the Vanik-Frenzel Amendment, would give a tax credit for tuition paid to non-public elementary and secondary schools. It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 209-194. A similar provision was defeated in the Senate of the United States by a vote of 56 to 41 despite the fact that the original Moynihan-Packwood bill had 50 co-sponsors

AFT members can take great credit for the expected final defeat of this legislation. The margins of victory for the Vanik-Frenzel amendment and final passage of the bill in the House were so small that an expected Presidential veto probably will be sustained. The AFT was instrumental in forming the National Coalition to Save Public Education, which rallied support of parents and educators for the public schools. It was AFTers from across the country who called, visited, and lobbied their representatives and senators and turned many votes. The AFL-CIO Executive Council called on other unions to join us in this fight and AFL-CIO lobbyists, and those of other unions, clearly made an important contribution to this imminent victory.

Nevertheless, it would be a grave error for AFT members and friends of education to think that the issue has now been put to rest. There is every indication that the legislation, even if defeated or vetoed, will be reintroduced in the next or subsequent sessions of Congress.

The AFT has signaled this issue as most important for teachers. Therefore, the 62nd annual convention of the American Federation of Teachers resolves the following:

That AFT/COPE give first priority for financial contributions to those endorsed incumbents who have supported the AFT in its fight to maintain the public school system and opposed tuition tax credits for non-public elementary and secondary education.

That this convention urge all AFT locals and state federations to withhold endorsements or any other assistance from incumbents who have supported tuition tax credits for non-public elementary and secondary education, except when the incumbent has indicated that in the future he or she will not support a tax credit for tuition paid to private and parochial elementary and secondary schools.

There are many congressional and senatorial races this year where there is no incumbent. In such cases, this convention urges AFT locals to interview all candidates before endorsing them. An integral part of the interview should be a question about tuition tax credits for non-public elementary and secondary education. We urge, furthermore, that if a candidate does not share the AFT position, that candidate not be endorsed for public office.

The AFT national office will work with locals and state federations to coordinate the policy.