Not unlike its opposition to the transportation sales tax vote this summer, the Atlanta Tea Party is joining forces with Georgia’s Legislative Black Caucus and education groups to oppose the Charter Schools Amendment.

Founder Debbie Dooley says she had supported the measure up until six weeks ago and then sat down and read the bill that created it.

“Do not look at who’s supporting the amendment, read the bill,” she says.

Dooley says a state charter commission is not needed since charter schools that fail to receive approval from local school boards can still appeal to the State Board of Education.

“Why put this middle man in there? Why put the state charter commission and create a bureaucracy?” asks Dooley.

But even Dooley admits the issue has divided conservatives.  The Marietta-based Georgia Tea Party came out in favor of the amendment earlier this month saying it does not think the size of government will increase.

It also believes it will provide an easier track for new charter schools.

Dooley stood alongside Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), chair of the GLBC, who has staunchly opposed the measure complaining it will re-segregate public education.

“The Black Caucus has not been a strong ally of the Tea Party, but we find ourselves on the same side of this issue,” says Jones.