WASHINGTON, D.C. – American Federation of Teachers union boss Rhonda Weingarten is coming under fire from educators for spending union money on shady political groups, something she’s known to criticize conservatives for.

“American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten confirmed that her union is supporting the Democracy Alliance to the tune of $230,000 annually, but denied that its work in secretly helping to finance major left-wing groups amounts to ‘dark money’ advocacy,” the Washington Free Beacon reports.

The Democracy Alliance, infamous for shielding its big-money contributors, funnels millions from super rich individuals each year to far-left groups like the Center for American Progress, Media Matters for America, and Democratic Super PAC Priorities USA.

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“The Alliance has been criticized for the opacity of its operations. It does not actually donate money to supported groups. Rather, it connects those groups with wealthy individual and institutional donors. Many of those groups do not disclose their donors, but even among those that do, DA’s involvement remains secret,” according to the news site.

In May, an attendee at the uber-liberal DA conference in Chicago accidentally left behind a list of “partners” who joined the group in 2013, which mostly included labor big-wigs like Weingarten, and Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America. Weingarten’s right hand, Michelle Ringuette, also became a partner in 2013, as did CWA senior director George Kohl. DA “partners” are required to pay $30,000 in dues and at least $200,000 in contributions to DA-supported groups, according to media reports.

“While union higher ups are well compensated – Weingarten and Cohen made $550,000 and $200,000 in 2012, respectively … Ringuette and Kohl each pulled down more than $150,000 – the $100,000 minimum aggregate contribution requirement likely means that AFT and CWA, rather than the individuals listed, are the entities providing DA pass-through funds, with top union officials serving as liaisons,” according to the news site.

That reality apparently doesn’t sit well with Tim Farley, a principal at a New York State elementary and middle school, who pointed out in an email to the Beacon that many of the AFT’s members “may not be in agreement with some of the issues that are supported by this group (DA).”

DA-backed groups like Media Matters and the Center for American Progress are strong proponents of the federal Common Core standards, for example, while many teachers hate them.

“The polls of teachers’ perception of Common Core show that a majority do not support CC and especially its implementation,” Farley told the Beacon. “Now, the rank and file are finding out that (Weingarten) and her assistant apparently are members of this DA at $30,000 each, plus another $200,000 to support other DA causes.”

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Farley and Garden City middle school principal Peter Osroff publicly criticized Weingarten on Twitter for her hypocritical stance on political spending.

“When she insisted that ‘fighting the Koch Bros’ is a legitimate use of AFT dues, (Osroff) replied, ‘You mean the Koch Brothers who donate $ BILLIONS to charities?”

Weingarten, of course, refused to label her DA membership as supporting dark money politics, and worked to spin the AFT’s involvement as “civic engagement.”

“Wldn’t call civic engagement, GOTV efforts dark $,” she tweeted. “DA pools $ to fight for progressive causes … Spending it to ensure reg folks had access to democracy … and a fairer economy.”

Well, that sounds nice, but it begs a simple question:

“If AFT is so proud to be a part of this DA group, then why not publicize it and inform its members of all the wonderful benefits?” Farley questioned.