January 15, 2021
PHILADELPHIA— In response to new reporting showing that Jeffrey Yass funded efforts to overturn the 2020 election, AFT Pennsylvania President Arthur Steinberg, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan, and Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers President Nina Esposito-Visgitis issued the following statement:
"For years, billionaire Jeffrey Yass has funded efforts to destroy public education. In fact, in 2015, he and two of his associates poured millions into a failed Philadelphia mayoral bid that only served to galvanize the city's commitment to public education. Elected officials in Pennsylvania continue to benefit from enormous contributions from Students First and their various political arms, almost exclusively funded by Mr. Yass and his Susquehanna Group colleagues.
"Today, reporting emerged that further exposed Yass' political agenda, noting that he and his associates backed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which as we all know, was carried out to the letter of the law.
"Knowing that Mr. Yass' agenda extends beyond his disgraceful attacks on public education, and in fact to the heart of our democracy, should shock every elected official who has received his generous funding in the name of 'school choice.'
"We call on any elected official who believes in democracy to immediately return any contributions from Mr. Yass or his affiliated political committees."
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