The Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus (PFC) is calling on their Republican colleagues to implement a new rule preventing campaign contributions from teachers’ unions such as the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA).

The proposed rule change state that “The Pennsylvania Republican Party shall not accept money, in-kind contributions, or anything of value, directly of indirectly, from the National Education Association (NEA) or any of the NEA’s state affiliates, including the Pennsylvania State Educational Association (PSEA), or the Political Action Committee for Education (PACE), or any of the NEA’s state affiliates or their related organizations.”

A tweet from the organization reads, “Our students are the future of the commonwealth and it’s time to put them first.”

The PFC is calling on the state party to implement the change and help those who seek public office on the ticket to be accountable to their communities, constituents, and their children through the elimination of special interest money and the failed policies that money represents.

A caveat was added by the PFC that all contributions received by Republican candidates before the adoption of this requirement “shall be exempt from consideration.”

Members of the Caucus include

• Dawn Keefer, chair
• David Rowe, vice chair
• Paul Schemel (R-Franklin), secretary
• Aaron Bernstine (R-Mercer/Butler)
• Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton/Centre)
• Joe D’Orsie (R-York)
• Wendy Fink (R-York)
• Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland)
• Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Union)
• Mike Jones (R-York)
• Tom Jones (R-Lancaster/Dauphin)
• Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia)
• Leslie Rossi (R-Westmoreland/Somerset)
• Perry Stambaugh (R-Perry/Cumberland)
• Joanne Stehr (R-Northumberland, Columbia, Montour)
• Dave Zimmerman (R-Lancaster)