{"id":115262,"date":"2021-02-01T18:33:06","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T23:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=115262"},"modified":"2021-02-01T19:12:13","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T00:12:13","slug":"democrats-who-resisted-reopening-schools-took-thousands-from-teacher-unions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-who-resisted-reopening-schools-took-thousands-from-teacher-unions\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats Who Resisted Reopening Schools Took Thousands From Teacher Unions"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-who-resisted-reopening-schools-took-thousands-from-teacher-unions%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=115262&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Democrats are taking the side of the Chicago Teachers Union as it vows to strike. City leadership ordered teachers to return to classroom learning and the ongoing feud is highlighting the burgeoning divide between teacher unions \u2014 who wish to keep schools closed \u2014 and school administrators \u2014 who wish to safely reopen using mitigation strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The White House Chief of Staff, Ron Klain, is among the most notable Democrats to take the side of the teacher unions that refuse to return to in-person learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The unions and the Biden administration claim that reopening schools is unsafe, despite evidence that in-school transmission of COVID-19 is extremely rare. A peer-reviewed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pediatrics.aappublications.org\/content\/pediatrics\/early\/2021\/01\/06\/peds.2020-048090.full.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that \u201cschools can stay open safely in communities with widespread community transmission.\u201d Other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/ideas\/archive\/2020\/10\/schools-arent-superspreaders\/616669\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have also indicated that schools are not driving coronavirus infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/community\/schools-childcare\/schools.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Guidance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also calls on schools to reopen for in-person learning \u201cas safely and quickly as possible.\u201d Dr. Anthony Fauci has repeatedly <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DeAngelisCorey\/status\/1335726393443971075\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">echoed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> the CDC guidelines to reopen schools, as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite Democrats\u2019 calls for \u201cscience\u201d to drive policy, there appears to be another force driving their policy goals \u2014 political donations from teacher unions. Here are the Democrats who backed efforts to keep schools closed while taking thousands from teacher unions in the 2020 election cycle:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1. Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Allred has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepColinAllred\/status\/1263235610917179395\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">called<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on experts to guide how schools should safely reopen, though he <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ColinAllredTX\/status\/1283917430134374400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">advocated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for Dallas County Schools to remain closed. \u201cProtecting our kids is our top priority and we can\u2019t reopen our schools safely yet,\u201d Allred said after Dallas County Schools voted to remain closed through Labor Day. \u201cI know this is not easy for many, but I support the decision to delay.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Dallas County School System remains in virtual learning and will consider a reopening plan on Feb. 12.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Allred <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/summary.php?ind=l1300&amp;cycle=2020&amp;recipdetail=H&amp;sortorder=N&amp;mem=Y&amp;page=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">received<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> $20,102 from teacher unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>2. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/axne.house.gov\/media\/in-the-news\/axne-prods-congress-help-teachers-worries-spread-over-going-back-school\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">interview<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Axne blasted Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) for reopening schools. \u201cRight now we\u2019re seeing teachers who are asking for living wills,\u201d Axne <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/axne.house.gov\/media\/in-the-news\/axne-prods-congress-help-teachers-worries-spread-over-going-back-school\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u201cTeachers are fighting back against the proclamation of the governor because they\u2019re scared for their own health and safety and that of their families.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the same interview, Axne said that teachers should make decisions regarding when school reopenings are safe from themselves and students. \u201cOur teachers and our administrators need to be the ones who are making the decision about what\u2019s right for them and what\u2019s right for the children that they serve in those communities,\u201d Axne <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/axne.house.gov\/media\/in-the-news\/axne-prods-congress-help-teachers-worries-spread-over-going-back-school\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Axne <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/summary.php?ind=l1300&amp;cycle=2020&amp;recipdetail=H&amp;sortorder=N&amp;mem=Y&amp;page=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">received<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> $21,410 from teacher unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On Twitter, Casten tweeted that reopening schools was done to satisfy the agendas of Donald Trump and former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The Illinois representative tweeted out an article from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2020\/07\/12\/us\/arizona-teachers-coronavirus\/index.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CNN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> about the loss of an Arizona teacher with a caption that claims reopening schools could kill people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cIf you care about our students and our teachers, don\u2019t listen to [Betsy DeVos] until she has a plan informed by scientists and public health experts,\u201d Casten <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SeanCasten\/status\/1282680901026164737\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u201cReopening just to satisfy the president will serve only to kill more people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Casten <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/summary.php?ind=l1300&amp;cycle=2020&amp;recipdetail=H&amp;sortorder=N&amp;mem=Y&amp;page=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">received<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> $20,540 from teacher unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>4. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In an August <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/08\/31\/us\/politics\/jahana-hayes-schools-coronavirus.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">interview<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with the New York Times, Hayes said that reopening schools is \u201cirresponsible\u201d because there is no scientific evidence to support reopening.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhere is the point at which you think it would be safe to send kids back to schools? I can\u2019t think of any other segment of the economy that even proposed reopening at full capacity. Not airlines, not restaurants, not theaters, nothing,\u201d Hayes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/08\/31\/us\/politics\/jahana-hayes-schools-coronavirus.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u201cAnd to have that even be a part of the conversation when it came to schools \u2014 and not be supported by the science of the data \u2014 I think is completely irresponsible.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hayes also introduced a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hayes.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/hayes-reintroduces-save-education-jobs-act-protect-nearly-4-million-education-0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">bill<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to bail out school districts that were forced to lay off teachers due to school closures. The bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teacher union in the nation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Hayes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/summary.php?ind=l1300&amp;cycle=2020&amp;recipdetail=H&amp;sortorder=N&amp;mem=Y&amp;page=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">received<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> $20,279 from teacher unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/andylevin.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/congressman-andy-levin-blasts-trump-and-devos-catastrophic-school-reopening\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">post<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> entitled, \u201cCongressman Andy Levin Blasts Trump and DeVos for Catastrophic School Reopening Demands,\u201d Levin did just that. The Michigan congressman called on the Trump administration to stop schools from returning to in-person instruction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI\u2019m calling on this administration to stop demanding that in-person instruction resume while failing to contain the coronavirus or provide schools with the resources they need to reopen safely,\u201d Levin <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/andylevin.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/congressman-andy-levin-blasts-trump-and-devos-catastrophic-school-reopening\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. \u201cNeither has any business ignoring the warning of public health experts, educators, and parents for the sake of their vanity projects.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Levin received $15,460 from teacher unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>6. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In June, Florida Gov. Ron Desantis (R) <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flgov.com\/2020\/06\/11\/governor-ron-desantis-announces-recommendations-to-safely-reopen-floridas-education-system\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">announced<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> $475 million in state-directed education funding to safely reopen all of Florida\u2019s schools. The announcement was met with ire from Murphy who claimed that schools were not safe enough to reopen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cState leaders allowed the virus to spread unchecked, failed to implement aggressive measures to protect Floridians [and] are moving forward with a school reopening plan that ignores the severity of community spread,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cIt is no surprise the result has been an unmitigated disaster.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Murphy <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/summary.php?ind=l1300&amp;cycle=2020&amp;recipdetail=H&amp;sortorder=N&amp;mem=Y&amp;page=2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">received<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> $14,000 from teacher unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>7. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA)<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">During a virtual <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RepSpanberger\/videos\/236741118117809\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">town hall<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Spanberger sided with the teacher unions by implying that schools can only reopen once teachers are fully vaccinated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI would like to see schools reopened as soon as possible. But, as soon as possible and safe,\u201d Spanberger said. \u201cMy hope and expectation is that with the increase [sic] purchase of vaccinations \u2026 that we will be able to prioritize and strengthen vaccinations to teachers.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the 2020 election cycle, Spanberger was the top recipient of teacher union money in the House of Representatives with $27,406.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Communications representatives from all seven congressional offices did not respond to requests for comment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats are taking the side of the Chicago Teachers Union as it vows to strike. City leadership ordered teachers to return to classroom learning and the ongoing feud is highlighting &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1892417,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,4546,4696,3735,4286,4700],"class_list":["post-115262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-reopening","tag-resisted","tag-schools","tag-thousands","tag-took"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=115262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1892417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=115262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=115262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=115262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}