Teachers unions gave over $2.7 million to Democrat House reps in 2020

Teachers unions gave over $2.7 million to Democrat House members in 2020. That's approximately $500,00 more than they gave Democrats in the 2018 cycle and tens of thousands of dollars less than they gave Republicans in 2018.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) received the most contributions, more than $27,000, from teachers' unions in 2020—more than her boss, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

According to OpenSecrets.org, the Center for Responsive Politics, teachers unions opened their pockets in 2020 but mostly to Democrat lawmakers. In 2020, about a dozen Republican lawmakers received approximately $30,000 in contributions, with Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) receiving the most, $10,345, and Steve Scalise (R-LA), receiving a whopping $40.

Spanberger has been vocal that schools should remain closed, despite CDC recommendations and other data suggesting it's safe for them to open and for kids to return. During a Jan. 27 virtual town hall she said, "Teacher-to-teacher transmission is one of the major risks, having read a variety of articles about what are the risks of transmission within schools. I would like to see schools opened as soon as possible, but as soon as possible and safe."

Teachers unions have been under fire for the last several weeks as many in our nations major metropolitan cities appear to be using the pandemic as a bargaining chip to reopen schools on very specific terms. Some claim they will open if certain demands are met only to move the goalposts again.

Over the summer, the United Teachers Los Angeles demanded extreme leftist policies be instituted—think defunding the police—then they would consider reopening schools. Yet they did not even consider doing so until Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned it a few weeks ago. Members of the Chicago Teachers Union voted not to return to schools to teach students even though the district administrators demanded they do so. Teachers in Fairfax County, Virg. demanded they receive vaccinations before reopening schools to in-person learning yet even after receiving their first doses, teachers refuse to go back to work.

Schools have been shut down for in-person learning, in some states, for nearly a year. At first, closing schools made sense. However, as the year continued, lockdowns have proven more harmful to kids than COVID-19. Kids are struggling to learn and even more troubling, struggling to remain emotionally and mentally stable.

Parents, students, and even elected officials are demanding schools reopen for in-person learning immediately. Teachers unions are standing in their way.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), who did not receive any contributions from teachers unions in 2020, is one of the handful of Republican lawmakers who are firm proponents of reopening schools so kids can resume life as normally as possible.