The Alabama Education Association has given up its legislative fight in favor of double dipping.

It does not have enough votes to overturn a State Board of Education policy that soon will prevent employees of two-year colleges from serving in the Legislature and statewide offices. Even if the bill passes, Gov. Bob Riley will veto it.

Now, says AEA Executive Secretary Paul Hubbert, the AEA will fight the school board’s policy in court.

Proponents of double dipping can try to make it a partisan issue — Republicans trying to take over the Legislature from Democrats — or a matter of a citizen’s right to serve in public office. But AEA’s strongest interest here is to be able to elect people who will do its bidding, maintaining its formidable lobbying power.

What the public needs, though, is lawmakers who serve the public interest — not any special interest. Although AEA often supports legislation that is good for education, its main loyalty is to its own members on matters such as teacher salaries and benefits.

A good lawmaker should not have a personal dog in most fights; he or she should be objective and public-spirited. That’s why we should stop double dipping.