Teachers group to sue over dues bill

RALEIGH (The Associated Press) - The N.C. Association of Educators and Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue accused Republican legislative leaders Thursday of holding an illegal overnight meeting to overturn the governor's veto of a bill that some considered punishment for the NCAE's political activity.

Officials with the NCAE said it planned to sue to overturn the law, which ends its ability to have voluntary member dues deducted directly from teacher paychecks. A large majority of the association's revenues, which are used for lobbying and legislative advocacy, comes from dues of its 70,000 members.

The association is a strong force in state politics and has close ties to Perdue. But it has been knocked around recently after Republicans won a majority in the legislature. The GOP pushed through the current state budget, which cut public school spending and led to job losses. House Speaker Thom Tillis has said the bill's passage was related to the association sending mailers to House districts represented by the five Democrats who joined Republicans in voting for the budget.