It's this organization's secret weapon-- real people ready to launch a tough lobbying blitz on Capitol Hill

It was a welcome relief from the corporate lawyer-types who make up the bulk of lobbyists on Capitol Hill. During one day in October, the "real people"--AFT activists from California to Rhode Island who were attending the union's government relations conference in Washington, D.C.--fanned out over Capitol Hill for intensive lobbying in the midst of crucial education votes.

Title I, the largest federal program targeted to the nation's neediest children, was the biggest education item on the table, and hopes were high among some GOP leaders that at least some of the money could be diverted into a voucher program. But that day, a voucher amendment, proposed by House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Tex.), to the Title I bill (H.R. 2) was defeated after 52 Republicans crossed over to vote with Democrats against the amendment. Also defeated: a scaled-back voucher demonstration program. The House went on to approve overwhelmingly a bipartisan proposal supporting the renewal for five years of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that preserves targeted federal assistance.

A second proposal, known as the "Straight A's" bill, which would have turned education programs, including Title I, into block grants, had to be scaled back after moderate Republicans balked. In a close vote, the House approved a pilot project for 10 states to convert federal aid programs into block grants.

At the end of the day, the AFT and its allies had scored a significant victory, and it was not lost on the media or politicians. The New York Times characterized the voucher vote as a "stinging rebuff to conservatives," and the Los Angeles Times noted that "moderate Republicans, who often bow to the wishes of House leaders on less sensitive issues, are willing to buck them on education, which polls show is a core concern of voters." Clearly, the pro-education forces on Capitol Hill are on the offensive.

Leading the frontline are the AFT and a broad coalition of education groups, parents, administrators and other unions. "People from home bring issues to life for members of Congress," says AFT legislative director Charlotte Fraas. "There is nothing that makes an impact like a face-to-face conversation. It can make the difference between members of Congress voting with the [House or Senate] leadership and what their consciences dictate is best for constituents."

AFT member Glen Bayless, a 23-year veteran teacher from Fairfax, Va., was lobbying on the hill for the first time and representing nearly 3,000 AFT members from Fairfax County. "It was a chance for people to see that the lobbying process is open to the everyday person," he said. Although he could not persuade his member of Congress, Frank Wolf (R-Va.), to support the AFT's position on vouchers, he found the effort worthwhile. "I thought I would get blown off, but it wasn't that way at all--it was a very positive experience," he said. Wolf was "genuinely interested in listening to different opinions."

Patty Bentley, who chairs the legislation committee for United University Professions, the AFT local at the State University of New York, was also lobbying for the first time on Capitol Hill. She had a full agenda--visiting with Democrats Sen. Charles Schumer, Reps. Nita Lowey, Louise Slaughter and Anthony Weiner (a SUNY graduate), as well as Republican John McHugh. In Slaughter's office, she met with three aides, two of whom were SUNY graduates. Bentley's discussions with lawmakers focused on both Title I and higher education issues, she said, and "it was a thrill being there for the Title I vote."

The Capitol Hill blitz in October follows a series of intense lobbying efforts by AFT members this fall that have had a strong impact. Earlier, the revived Patients' Bill of Rights sailed through the House of Representatives by a surprising 275-151 vote in favor of a bill that provides real protection for consumers and health care workers who blow the whistle on profit-driven abuses.

The vote was propelled by strong public support mobilized by the AFT and other labor and consumer organizations. And the bill, sponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Ga.), also reflected defections among Republicans. Sixty-eight Republicans ignored their marching orders from House Speaker Dennis Hastert and supported the bill.

Although the patients' rights bill still faces obstacles, including a Senate version that is much weaker, the message again came through loud and clear. Various newspapers characterized the Patients' Bill of Rights vote as a "stinging defeat" and "stunning rebuff" to Republican House leaders.

Class size: Keep up the pressure

During last-minute budget negotiations between Congress and the Clinton administration this fall, another AFT member stepped forward to make the case for putting the nation's children first. First-grade teacher Krystal Wells, a member of the AFT-affiliated Hammond (Ind.) Teachers Union, spoke at a press conference on Capitol Hill about the vital role of small classes in giving her the opportunity to work effectively with her students.

Wells and almost 30,000 other teachers around the country were hired last year through funds provided in the federal class size-reduction initiative. Republican leaders in Congress have so far refused to provide more funds for the program, which is intended to help hire 100,000 new teachers so districts can reduce class sizes in the early grades. "Reducing class sizes is critical," said Wells, whose district concentrated all of its federal class-size funds in three low-performing schools. Wells also introduced First Lady Hillary Clinton, who spoke at the press conference. "We ought to give every teacher the same opportunity" to interact with small groups of students as Wells has, Clinton said. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and a group of leading Senate Democrats also spoke at the event.

Wells was the second AFT member in as many weeks to participate in a press conference on education issues. Earlier, AFT member and special education teacher Brenda Jenkins of Washington, D.C., was also with distinguished and high-visibility company when she spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference on education funding organized by the Democrats. As she spoke, she was flanked by no fewer than four senators--Patty Murray of Washington, Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and Tom Harkin of Iowa.

Up close and personal

Meanwhile, the AFT is working to expand members' and leaders' personal contact with legislators. Over the past year, the union has sponsored a series of fact-finding visits by members of Congress to schools in their districts to dramatize the need for school repairs and construction. Although chances of securing even a modest school construction program are slim this year, the efforts of the AFT and its allies in the labor and education community have raised the visibility--and the heat--on the issue. It also has allowed the union to make connections with administrators, superintendents, school board members and other local officials that has paid off in cooperation in other areas (see related story on page 6).

AFT members also are using more technology to communicate directly to members of Congress on a host of issues, ranging from school construction to vouchers to gun control. Throughout the year, the union's political department sponsors political action centers at all of the AFT's major conferences that provide handouts, petitions and access to the union's Contact Congress area of its Web site. So far this year, AFT members have sent more than 24,000 letters to their representatives, says the department.