Ballot Issue Crisis Fund
Help turn back attacks on public education

With your help Missouri NEA can quickly and more effectively respond to public-education detractors. Help protect the students in our schools from harmful out-of-state anti-public education agendas by contributing to the MNEA Ballot Issue Crisis Fund.

Why do we need a Ballot Issue Crisis Fund now?
Several efforts to undermine public education and severely limit state spending have been targeted at Missouri. In addition to pushing these efforts in the legislature, proponents are attempting to get them on the ballot through the initiative-petition process. Extremist groups have gathered signatures to get school voucher amendment and an extreme state-spending limit amendment on the November ballot.

From where did the Ballot Issue Crisis Fund idea come?
In 2004-2005, MNEA’s Legal and Dues Task Force discussed the type of campaign it would take to deal with ballot issues that impact public education. Task Force members recalled our efforts to defeat the Hancock II Amendment in 1994. It took unprecedented coalition work, large numbers of volunteers and $300,000 to fund our part of the campaign. The Legal and Dues Task Force recommended that the MNEA Board of Directors establish a crisis fund to deal with ballot issues. The motion passed by the board in May 2005 called for voluntary donations in 2005-06. On April 22, 2006, the MNEA Representative Assembly voted to fortify the fund by collecting $1 per month per member. Student and Retired members are being encouraged to voluntarily donate to the crisis fund.

Who decides how the fund will be used?
All of the money in the crisis fund will be used on ballot-issue campaigns. These campaigns are usually done in coalition with many other groups. Each coalition group is expected to help fund the campaign. None of the money will be used for candidates, political parties, or MNEA day-to-day legislative efforts. The MNEA Board of Directors will determine how and when the money should be spent. The Representative Assembly will receive financial updates in November and
April.

What happens if we don’t have a ballot issue in November?
The money collected in the current membership year will stay in the fund. It will be used on ballot issues that may occur in upcoming elections.

How do I help?
Protect against harmful anti-public education ballot issues by contributing to the MNEA Ballot Issue Crisis Fund. Your local association may want to make a collective contribution. Just download and complete the Ballot Issue Crisis Fund Form (pdf). Mail to MNEA, 1810 E Elm Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101.