What is VOTE-COPE and Why is VOTE-COPE Important?

VOTE-COPE is an acronym representing the Voice Of Teachers in Education, the Committee On Political Education. VOTE-COPE is also referred to as PAC (Political Action Committee), the non-partisan political action arm of New York State United Teachers. Funded entirely by voluntary contributions from members, VOTE-COPE is used to help union-backed candidates and campaign committees that support education and labor. VOTE-COPE helps strengthen political action programs on all levels―national, state and local. To help on the local level, VOTE-COPE provides rebates to participating unions for political action. VOTE-COPE funds, by law, are kept separate from those of NYSUT. Decisions on the use of VOTE-COPE contributions are made by a statewide committee. Voluntary VOTE-COPE contributions can be made through payroll deduction for active members and, for retirees, through automatic pension deduction. Contributions or gifts to VOTE-COPE are not tax deductible.

Donations to VOTE-COPE help to ensure that school districts and colleges receive the state aid necessary to provide quality educational services to our youth. VOTE-COPE gives our profession the political power we need to protect education, health care and workers' rights. The primary goal of VOTE-COPE is to support the goals of public education and protect all of NYSUT's constituents, from our newest members to our retirees. VOTE-COPE lobbies for:

• state aid for education and health care;

• decent working conditions;

• a secure retirement;

• affordable prescription drugs; and

• affordable health coverage.

VOTE-COPE also:

• takes on those whose agenda is decidedly anti-union;

• works for resources to help students who are striving to reach higher standards;

• encourages smaller class sizes through legislation;

• supports competitive salaries to recruit qualified teachers;

• fights for state aid increases so newly hired teachers can be safe from financially motivated layoffs;

• advocates for affordable tuition at public colleges to keep graduate program costs down; and

• lobbies for mentor program legislation to provide critical support to new teachers.

For good or for bad, the future of quality public education, as well as the future of your profession, your retirement and your health care is bound to decisions coming out of Albany and Washington.

In recent years VOTE-COPE has helped to secure:

• a permanent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retiree pensions;

• teacher Center funding;

• the elimination of Tier inequities such as the mandatory 3% contribution for Tier 3 and 4 members of the NYS Retirement System (these members now only pay into the system for 10 years instead of their entire career);

• the continued enforcement of tenure laws and legislation like the Triborough Amendment (which continues the terms of expired contracts until successor agreements are negotiated);

• momentum for greater investment in our schools; and

• historic overrides of vetoes that restored $1 billion in education and health care funding;

• the 2009 education share of the Federal Stimulus package.

On the national level VOTE-COPE has helped in the fight against privatizing Social Security. A study by the Women's National Law Center found that privatizing Social Security will increase poverty among the elderly and those with disabilities. Additionally, VOTE-COPE has helped to prevent the passage of anti-public education measures like vouchers and tuition tax credits throughout New York and all 50 states.

The single greatest form of VOTE-COPE expenditures, however, comes in the form of rebates to locals. These rebates supply the resources necessary to run campaigns for school budget initiatives and elections for pro-public education candidates for school board races. When we speak with one voice, we make a difference. Your PAC gives you the clout you need to strengthen the teaching profession. Smaller class sizes, greater investments in technology and capital improvements, higher standards and the resources to achieve them are all a part of VOTE-COPE. You should be a part of VOTE-COPE too. Contact your building VOTE-COPE coordinator for a payroll deduction form.

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Common Questions and Answers Regarding VOTE-COPE

Question:  What criteria are used by NYSUT to select candidates for endorsement?

Answer:  The primary consideration is the candidate's positions on educational and labor issues and where the candidate is an incumbent, his or her voting record. The "record" could include information regarding sponsorship of NYSUT legislation, committee votes and party caucus positions, if available. Other considerations include the leadership and/or committee responsibility of the incumbent legislator, and the ability of the challenger to be a viable candidate.

Question:  How does NYSUT determine a candidate's stand on non-educational and non-labor issues such as abortion, gun control, etc.?

Answer:  It doesn't. NYSUT's membership represents a wide spectrum of political views. The only assumption, which is made, is that the great majority of our members agree on the basic NYSUT/AFL-CIO legislative programs. Consideration of other issues would most probably be divisive and counterproductive.

Question:  What chance do NYSUT members get to provide input into the endorsement of local candidates?

Answer:  Any endorsement may be initiated by a president of a local, or member of  NYSUT's Board of Directors. These recommendations are discussed at a biennial Presidents' Conference on Endorsements prior to their official presentation to the NYSUT Board of directors.

Question:  Why don't rank and file NYSUT members get to vote on endorsed candidates?

Answer:  The entire system of teacher political action depends upon the participation of the rank and file members of NYSUT. They supply the votes, the workers and the money to support or oppose candidates for office. NYSUT relies on your local leadership to accurately represent you at the Local Presidents Conference on Endorsements.

Question:  What role do local presidents play in NYSUT's endorsements?

Answer:  Local input on endorsement decisions is vital. The local president serves as the voice of each local's membership. In order to ensure that the views of each local are heard, NYSUT conducts a Local Presidents Conference on Endorsements during the summer months prior to each general election. Every local is invited to attend, and funding for travel and other expenses is provided to guarantee that financial considerations do not prevent any local from being represented. At the Local Presidents Conference, endorsements are discussed in regional groupings that provide the opportunity for each local president to give input on the races in his or her area. Every attempt is made to achieve a consensus view on each race (i.e., whether to make an endorsement or to remain neutral) before the recommendation is carried to the NYSUT Board of Directors for formal endorsement. Clearly, the local president plays an extremely important role in the endorsement procedure.

Question:  I am a republican. Why should I support NYSUT candidates when so many of the endorsed candidates are democrats (or vice versa)?

Answer:  NYSUT and VOTE/COPE are non-partisan and intend to remain non-partisan. Both Democrats and Republicans have been endorsed in the state legislature and in Congress. Political party affiliation is not a consideration in endorsement. In the words of former NYSUT president Thomas Hobart: "Our rigorous endorsement process ignores political affiliation, putting a premium on candidates from all parties―Democrat or Republican―who truly understand and support the concerns of our diverse membership. From our legislative department's careful monitoring of incumbents' voting records to our NYSUT leaders' biennial endorsement conference, the endorsement test is the same: Which candidates―regardless of political affiliation, Democrat or Republican―understand the workplace issues and the health and safety concerns of our members and their families? The endorsement process is open and democratic (with a small "d"). And it doesn't occur in a vacuum. Along with organized labor in New York State and across the nation, we're moving forward together. . . The endorsement process is demanding and detail-driven. And it works."

Question:  If VOTE-COPE has been so successful, why are our property taxes so high?

Answer:  New York State's system of taxation is inherently unfair. In fact, some states have declared our property tax system of funding unconstitutional. One of the main causal factors regarding high property taxes is Albany's refusal to properly fund public education. New York State's percentage contribution to public education funding is one of the lowest in the country, causing this burden to fall more heavily on local property owners. Without VOTE-COPE efforts, the State's contributions would likely fall even more.

Question:  If Valley Central consistently has one of the lowest per pupil cost expenditures in both Orange County and the entire Mid-Hudson Valley, why are our taxes not the lowest to match this? 

Answer:  The Valley Central School District has historically spent less per child per year than all of the 58 schools in the Mid-Hudson Valley. However, our less than perfect system of financing public education is impacted by state aid formulas and local infrastructure. Most communities have a higher business tax roll than Valley Central, easing the burden on local homeowners. This places your school officials in a precarious Catch-22 situation. Even though our student expenditures are at the bottom, this does not necessarily translate into the lowest property taxes. Join the VCTA's and NYSUT's efforts to change this inherently unfair system. It is our goal to change this system without punishing our children and public education in the meantime.

Question:  Why shouldn't I contribute directly to the candidate of my choice, rather than VOTE-COPE? 

Answer:  The primary objective of VOTE/COPE is to support those candidates who generally support the NYSUT legislative program. It is essential that the elected officials and candidates for office clearly recognize the link between the union's political arm and its legislative program. VOTE/COPE as a PAC representing collectively more than 600,000 members wields considerably more influence than any individual or local.

The preceding information was provided by the New York State United Teachers.

Select  "Vote-Cope Provides Balance In Tough Times" to read about Vote-Cope from NYSUT's official publication, New York Teacher.

Select "Political Action: What, Why, Who, When, Where & How" to a read an article published in the June 2009 Echoes regarding political action.

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NYSUT Endorsement Procedures

NYSUT's Legislative Department prepares recommendations for candidate endorsements for election or reelection based upon a combination of the following: voting records; relationships in Washington, Albany and in the home districts; and such additional background information as is available to headquarters. These recommendations are submitted to NYSUT's Political Action Committee for its advice and counsel and subsequently referred to regional meetings of local presidents who attended NYSUT's Local Presidents' Conference for their consideration, approval and/or modification. After this complete review, the Political Action Committee finalizes its recommendations for election activities and those recommendations are submitted to NYSUT's Executive Committee and Board of Directors for final approval.

Over the course of the three day conference, changes in endorsement recommendations may be effectuated with input from Local Presidents and PAC members. The NYSUT Board votes to endorse the candidates based on this input.

The VCTA believes this is the most comprehensive endorsement procedure used by any organization in New York State and probably in the country.

We urge all of our members, our members' families, and our members' friends and neighbors to consider NYSUT-endorsed candidates whether they are incumbents or challengers.

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Sign up for VOTE-COPE payroll deduction. See your building VOTE-COPE coordinator for a payroll deduction form or download a PDF version of the VOTE-COPE Contribution Form available here and forward it to our District VOTE-COPE Coordinator, Robin Scott, at Berea, your building coordinator, or directly to the union office.

Robin Scott

Berea/District Coordinator

Mary Devitt

East Coldenham

Donna Lloyd

Maybrook

Gail Nozell

Montgomery

MaryEllen Mangiamele

Walden

Tammy Coleman

Middle School

Jennie Sexton

High School

A $50 yearly contribution is approximately $2 per paycheck. Simply mark $50 for the school year on your VOTE-COPE Contribution Form and the Business Department will prorate the biweekly deduction for 21 (22) or 25 (26) pay periods.

In recognition of the VCTA's  Leadership in making VOTE/COPE the most effective voice in politics on behalf of the members of NYSUT and the students we serve, the Valley Central Teachers' Association has been awarded the 2005 Abel Blattman Award by the New York State United Teachers.

NYSUT Endorsements

Select this link for a PDF file listing all of NYSUT's endorsed candidates for the November 4, 2008 election. Select NYSUT Endorsements Website to view this same list along with other relevant information from its original source.

Tier IV Equity

Select this link to view a

chronological list of enhancements to Tier IV made possible by your VOTE-COPE contributions. (NYSUT)

Committee of 100

Lobbying Agenda

Select these links to view details regarding NYSUT's message to NY State representatives as presented by your Committee of 100 on:

• March 16, 2010

• May 12, 2009

• March 24, 2009

• February 3, 2009

• March 18, 2008

• May 13, 2008

Better Choice for NY

Select this link to visit a website sponsored by New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness and dedicated to investing in the future of New York by making smart revenue and budget balancing choices.