New Jersey Governor Chris Christie explains how public sector unions control politicians

“My argument is with the union who collects $730 per year from every teacher and school employee in the union in mandatory dues. And if you don’t want to join the union, here’s your option, you pay 85% of $730 to be out… That raisese for the teachers union $130 million per year for an army of lobbyists in the state house – every time there’s a bill that affects public education there’s five lobbyists from the union sitting there staring down those legislators in case they dare to disagree.”

“The teachers union is about the accumulation and exercise of raw power. The fight is about who is going to run public education in New Jersey – the parents and the people the elect, or the mindless faceless union leaders who decide that they’re going to be the ones who run it because they have the money and the authority to bully around school boards and local councils.”