Some union count dropping

Declines in membership are posing serious challenges for some teachers unions, but even those experiencing growth spurts are uncertain what the future political environment will look like in a state that’s trending both conservative and pro-business.
Total membership in the Louisiana Association of Educators, based on state statistics released by the national association, dropped to 12,334 in 2012-13, a 19 percent decrease since 2008-09, and a drop of 10 percent since 2011-12.
Ashley Davies, LAE’s communications specialist, told LaPolitics the losses are due to the economy, retirements and decreased investments in education by the state.
She said the numbers “are not a true representation of the overall LAE membership,” adding, “We are pleased to report that we have met and exceeded our membership goals for the 2014 calendar year.”
Asked by email if the membership figures were inaccurate, Davies did not respond.
Steve Monaghan, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, said his group lost roughly 5,000 members after Hurricane Katrina, but has since bounced back to nearly 21,000 members today, up from around 17,000 in 2008-09.
It may be too elementary to assume that LFT has picked off members from LAE in recent years, he said.
“We’re not consciously going after LAE members,” Monaghan added. “This is a right-to-work state and some people may just be choosing not to join anywhere. Some may also be going the non-union route, with (the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana).”
A spike in retirements may be another cause, he said, as well as the increase in charter schools. But overall, Louisiana’s unions for teachers are coming off of a rocky few years and the future may offer more challenges.
Lawmakers continue to bring bills to eliminate payroll deductions for union members, similar to what was passed in Wisconsin. During this year’s session, such a bill failed in committee by a tie vote.
With anti-union voices, like U.S. Sen. David Vitter atop the 2015 ballot, Monaghan contends the fight isn’t over.
“Moving toward that election cycle, with the governor’s race and the (state) House and Senate races, we may see this conversation continue to play out over whether we want to be a union-free state or find a middle ground,” he said.

Super PAC taking
above cap donations
Even though the state Ethics Board could still technically appeal the federal ruling that allows the Fund for Louisiana’s Future to accept unlimited donations above the state’s $100,000 threshold, the super PAC’s architect isn’t waiting around.
“We are currently soliciting donations above the cap,” treasurer Charlie Spies told LaPolitics.
While the super PAC was originally created to help U.S. Sen. David Vitter in his 2015 campaign for governor, it has since branched out and purchased advertising to support state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon’s work on federal flood insurance.
Spies would not say if the fund would support other officials or issues in the future.
On the horizon, politicos around the country are watching to see just how much Vitter donates from his federal Senate campaign account to the super PAC, which is barred from coordinating with Vitter or any other candidates.
While he cannot directly spend money from his federal account on his state race, Vitter has already given $100,000 to the super PAC.
But that donation, which reaches right up to the Louisiana cap, was made in February, before the court’s ruling was handed down.
According to the latest filing with the Federal Election Commission, the super PAC has $1.7 million in the bank and raised $624,000 last quarter. No other donations from Vitter have been noted.

Below surface,
attorney general’s
race bubbles
Attorney General Buddy Caldwell addressed the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association during its conference last month, referring to himself as “family.” In regard to his job, he said he wanted to “keep doing it for quite some time.”
His remarks, lasting slightly more than a minute, were less of an election pitch than what was offered by Marty Maley of Baton Rouge, who worked as an assistant district attorney in the Port Allen-based 18th Judicial District. He’s a candidate in the 2015 election.
“With all due respect to Mr. Caldwell, there is a movement across the state for a new attorney general,” he told the sheriffs.
Former Congressman Jeff Landry of New Iberia, a fellow Republican, would have probably agreed, but he wasn’t there to say as much. Nor was he in attendance at a recent gathering of district attorneys.
But sources close to Landry say he has been on the fundraising circuit for months and is poised to post a significant figure next year for a statewide appeal.
More immediately, Landry is planning for his fourth annual alligator hunt — at $5,000 per tag.
As usual, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who offered encouraging words for Landry when he announced for AG, is expected to attend.
The host committee includes 11 members of Congress, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California.

Maginnis
scholarship
fund created
The widow of legendary Louisiana political writer John Maginnis has endowed a scholarship in his name at the Manship School of Mass Communication at LSU, which Maginnis attended.
She and his closest associates have asked Maginiss’ friends to remember him through donations to the scholarship fund.
“John would have been pleased to have the Manship School of Mass Communication serving as one of the stewards of his legacy,” said his widow, Jacqueline Drinkwater Maginnis.
“John’s roots ran deep at LSU, from editing The Daily Reveille to being inducted in the Manship Hall of Fame.
“It brings me great joy to see that his influence will continue through this scholarship and the students who will receive it in the coming years.
“In many ways, they are following in John’s own footsteps and I’m excited about introducing his work to future generations.”
The scholarship recipient will be chosen based on need and the quality of a 725-word essay about Louisiana politics.
In addition to the scholarship itself, the winner will serve an internship during the legislative session for the publications Maginnis founded, LaPolitics Weekly and LaPolitics.com.
Maginnis died in May at the age of 66. He founded and published LaPolitics and wrote a weekly political column published by 21 newspapers in Louisiana. He was the author of three books, “The Last Hayride,” “Cross to Bear” and “The Politics of Reform.”
More information can be found at www.lsufoundation.org.

They Said It
“We take our discharge and send it to Greystone (Country Club) to water their golf course.”
—Denham Springs mayoral candidate John Wascom on the city’s $35 million sewage treatment facility, at a Livingston Parish Republican Women’s luncheon this week

For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Jeremy Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.