A group linked to the Florida Education Association contributed $1 million in August and September to a campaign to defeat Amendment 8 on the November ballot, campaign-finance records show.
The group, known as the Public Education Defense Fund, sent the money to another group called “Vote No on 8.” While affiliated with the Florida Education Association, the Public Education Defense Fund has received $1.5 million this year from national teachers-union organizations, the records show. Amendment 8 would repeal part of the state constitution that bans public aid to faith-based organizations. The FEA opposes the amendment because it argues the repeal could help lead to taxpayer-funded vouchers to send children to religious schools.