State Senate Democrats have reaped $85,000 in election-year campaign contributions from the state teachers union since they skipped last month’s vote to cut pension benefits for new teachers and other public employees.
The New York State United Teachers union sent a $25,000 check to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee March 22 — eight days after the vote — and another $60,000 earlier this month, records show.
Teachers unions staunchly opposed the so-called Tier 6 pension bill backed by Gov. Cuomo, who has said it will save taxpayers across New York $80 billion over the next 30 years.
“Now we know the Senate Democrats’ price for taking a walk,” said one Republican insider.
DSCC spokesman Josh Cherwin said contributions “have no bearing on the positions of the conference” — which last year supported a successful property-tax cap bill the teachers unions also opposed.
Senate Democrats had walked out to protest the GOP’s ending the debate on a legislative-redistricting bill before the pension measure came up.