I'm wondering whether the HSTA will report its 6,000 paid lobbyists at the Capitol on Teacher Institute Day as an 'in-kind' expense.  It can't be a salary expense as the HSTA didn't pay the lobbyists: the taxpayers' DOE, under contract with the HSTA, did. I estimate, at average $45K salary, 180 working days, 7 hours/day, labor burden of 1.3 X earnings that the 6,000 paid lobbyists that day cost us about $1,900,000.00. 

Looking up the history of Teacher Institute day Joan Husted says it has become a day of professional development with speakers and workshops.  In the early days it often included the teachers "hearing about lobbying, political activities, and negotiations." Has it now become 'rent-a-crowd' or 'hire a mass of lobbyists' for actual political action on the taxpayers' dime? 

DOE by telephone inquiry says TID is 'in the contract.' The contract names it, but it is completely undefined. History posting says courts defined it as a work day when a teacher once got hurt on TID.