Rokita Applauds Teachers' Union Settlement: "Major Victory for Schools and Teachers"

Press Release

Today Rep. Todd Rokita issued the following statement following the announcement of a $14 million settlement between the National Educators Association, the Indiana State Teachers Association and the Office of Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson for the alleged $27 million defrauding of Hoosier teachers through a health insurance plan. Then-Secretary of State Rokita, with the office's Securities Division, began the investigation and filed the eventual lawsuit against the teachers unions in 2009.

"As Secretary of State, I, along with Securities Commissioner Naylor, opened this case because Hoosier teachers and school districts were misled by the Indiana State Teachers Association. Today's settlement is a major victory for those schools and teachers, and while the amount secured today is not a full refund, it certainly is far greater than the pennies offered before my office acted.

I join Secretary Lawson in calling on ISTA and the NEA to do the right thing and fully refund these teachers 100% of their money. I applaud Secretary Lawson for her hard work in completing this case, and Securities Commissioner Naylor for seeing this case through from beginning to end." Rokita said

The settlement for the case was announced this morning by Secretary Lawson's office, which had taken over the case following Rokita's two terms in office. The settlement is subject to the approval of the 27 Indiana school districts that were part of Rokita's lawsuit. A timeline of the securities fraud case, provided by Lawson's office, is attached. Additional details and archives on the investigation are available on the Indiana Secretary of State's website.

Source