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A Wake County Superior Court Judge has thrown out a law banning payroll deduction for members of the N.C. Association of Educators.

Judge Paul Gessner held that dues deduction law "is permanently enjoined because it constitutes retaliatory viewpoint discrimination'' in violation of the Free Speech Clause of the state Constitution.

The measure was passed in a controversial post mid-night session last January by the Republican-controlled legislature after leaders made threats against the NCAE, which had backed Democratic candidates in the previous election.

A state teachers union representative will visit members of North Carolina's congressional delegation as part of an effort to avoid cuts to education spending and to advocate for an end to tax breaks given to the wealthy as negotiations over how to address the so-called fiscal cliff are lingering.

Mark Jewell, vice president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, will meet on Wednesday with Sen. Kay Hagan and Reps. G.K. Butterfield and Larry Kissell – all Democrats – to deliver a simple message: "The state budget for education has grown tighter, and the federal government has had to pick up," he said. "There's nothing left to cut outside of the classroom."

Jewell said he supports the Democratic push for tax breaks given to the wealthy to expire, saying that it's "time for everyone to pay their fair share to help public education."

The National Education Association, of which NCAE is a member, estimates the effects to North Carolina would be harsh:

• $33.5 million in cuts, affecting nearly 45,000 low-income students;
   
• $26.8 million in cuts, affecting nearly 14,000 students with special needs;
   
• $14.1 million in cuts, denying nearly 1,700 the proven benefits of Head Start.

Jewell said those cuts specifically would be realized through federal funding provided to schools in low-income communities, programs for children with disabilities, and the Head Start Program.

The North Carolina Association of Educators is backing Rep. Mike McIntyre in the hotly-contested race to represent the state's 7th Congressional District.

The N.C. teachers association is hitting Republican Pat McCrory for his support of a  charter school company being investigated in Florida for using uncertified teachers and asking school employees to hide the practice.

The company under fire is K12 Inc, a for-profit, publicly traded company. Earlier this year, McCrory singled out a school being proposed by the company during a speech in Asheboro. “I am a firm believer in competition and support charter schools," McCrory said, according to local reports. "I am supporting a virtual charter school in Concord."

K12 Inc. is facing national scrutiny and lawsuits about its educational rigor, the most recent being an inquiry launched earlier this month in Florida after documents showed that company officials asked teachers to take credit for classes and students that they didn't teach.

Given the questions, is McCrory reconsidering his support for the school? A spokesman for the gubernatorial candidate said no.

North Carolina Association of Educators, a teachers union, has announced its support of six candidates in N.C. Council of State races in the upcoming election.

A release by NCAE announced that four Democrats and two Republicans won the union's support, but everyone selected is an incumbent.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton's campaign launched a group to reach out to educators in the race for governor. It's called Educators for Dalton.

Former NCAE President Sheri Strickland is its chairwoman, and founders include the current NCAE president and vice president.

Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is the Republican candidate.

“Walter Dalton created the state's early college system, led efforts to decrease classroom sizes, and worked to give teachers the largest pay raise in a generation,” Strickland said in a statement. “Walter has stood up for our children and teachers, and it’s time we stand up for him.”

Correction: Dalton's campaign started the group.

Rep. Darren Jackson has won the endorsement of the N.C. Association of Educator's Political Action Committee in the Democratic primary for the district 39 House seat in Wake County that he now holds.

The North Carolina Association of Educators is trying to take out Democratic Rep. William Brisson of Dublin for voting for the Republican budget last year.

The NCAE PAC has endorsed Matt Dixon, Brisson's Democratic challenger in the House District 22 that includes parts of Bladen, Sampson and Johnston Counties.

Since there is no Republican running, the winner of the May 8th primary will win the seat.

The NCAE charges that Brisson's vote for the Republican budget cost 220 local education jobs in the three counties. They also criticize him for backing a GOP-backed bill to end the payroll dues check off for the NCAE.

The N.C. Association of Educators not only doesn't plan to endorse in the Democratic primary for governor, but it doesn't plan to back any candidates in other Council of State races either including lieutenant governor.

Scott Anderson, executive director of the 60,000-member teachers group, said there was insufficient time to go through the vetting, interviewing, and ratification process before the May 8 primary. Absentee balloting begins April 19th.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina has weighed in on in the lieutenant governor's race, endorsing state personnel director Linda Coleman in the Democratic primary.

The North Carolina Association of Educators plan to remain neutral in the Democratic primary for governor, according to Scott Anderson, the executive director of the teacher's group.

Anderson the decision was based on a shortage of time to go through an endorsement process, which requires ratification process by its full memership and the fact that several of the Democrats are acceptable to the teachers group.

The three major candidates are former Congressman Bob Etheridge, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton and state Rep. Bill Faison.

“Especially with Dalton and Etheridge you have two people who are well known have a long history on our issues and to some extent Faison does as well, although he is lesser known to our members,” Anderson said.

“Ultimately, we are focused on making sure we have a strong pro education governor in November,” Anderson said.

The non endorsement is likely to be especially disappointing to Etheridge who is a former state superintendent of public instruction.

It is the second major employee/labor group to announce that it will set out the primary.  The State Employees Association of North Carolina is also not endorsing.

Anderson said the NCAE screening committee would like to talk with former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the likely Republican nominee. But it seems clear that McCrory has some selling to do before he can get the endorsement of the 60,000 member organization that leans Democratic.

“Our concern with Pat McCrory is that publicly he has aligned himself with the cuts that have become common place over the last couple of years in public education,” Anderson said. “He really hasn't shown an understanding of the impact it has made or spoken out to protect the classroom.''

Instead, said Anderson, he has defended the Republican legislature, in the cuts it has made.