Union Spending
The political free spending ways of the union bosses continue unabated. An analysis by USA Today shows that since 2004 (and the enactment of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance laws) independent political group spending has doubled. With $8 out of every $10 being spent for Democrats, it’s no surprise to find the union bosses priming the pump.
According to “. . . Anthony Corrado, a campaign-finance expert at Colby College in Maine”:
The drawn-out Democratic nomination battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton has spurred groups to spend heavily, he said. Obama is the top beneficiary, with $7.4 million spent to help his candidacy.
Service Employees International Union [SEIU] has spent the most: $5.2 million. For Pennsylvania’s April 22 primary, 150 members are canvassing and manning phone banks.
USA Today also discovered another fact that should surprise no one. The top three donors are all recipients of mandatory union dues — the SEIU, the American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Campaign reform was supposed to get big money out of politics. As long as workers are mandated to fund political campaigns, run and supported by union bosses, the spending will continue at record rates.
Spending: Top five donors
The political action committees of
the following groups:
SEIU COPE
Service Employees International Union
Committee on Political Education
$5,187,315.00AFSCME
American Federation of State County &
Municipal Employees – People, Qualified
$2,566,055.78AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
American Federation of Teachers, AFL-
CIO Committee on Political Education
$1,784,808.59