Big Labor’s Big Campaign Spending
by Jason HartBoiled down to the essentials, union backing of leftist politicians is good business: Democrats push policies that benefit union bosses at the expense of employers, customers, and often the unions’ own members. This is doubly true of public unions; of course someone who gets rich taking money from government workers wants bigger government!
The case for union reform is tough to make due to Big Labor’s dishonestly political nature. Claiming to speak for all teachers/mechanics/factory workers/Middle Class Americans, unions have a rhetorical curtain thick enough to hide tens of millions in partisan spending. Democrats gain loyal constituents, union bosses get to make unsustainable promises, and corporations take the blame when jobs are cut or shipped overseas.
Take a look at this Center for Responsive Politics chart of top campaign contributors (view PDF screencap):
When Progressives respond to union reform with cries of “racist!” and every victim card in the book, keep this in mind: 3 of the 11 biggest political donors in the nation are public unions.
- AFSCME – 3rd overall, with 94% going to Democrats
- NEA – 6th overall, with 82% going to Democrats
- AFT – 11th overall, with 90% going to Democrats
They’re in good Big Labor company, with 76% of SEIU (5) donations given to Democrats and each of these unions giving more than 85% of their contributions to Democrats: IBEW (9), Laborers Union (10), Teamsters (12), Carpenters & Joiners (13), CWA (14), UFCW (17), UAW (18), IAMAW (20).
Union bosses outspend by millions the corporations whose political influence they get rich demonizing. Democrats are expected to toe the union line as a matter of principle, while any Republican attempt at reform is framed as political payback. When GOP leaders are cowed into silence by this ridiculous double standard, union bosses win – and everyone else loses.
In Ohio, voters recently demonstrated their willingness to buy union talking points. This is why conservatives must work harder to inform our fellow citizens, and why 2012 is an awful time to push a state Right to Work amendment.
The chart above is one angle of what the GOP presidential candidate will be up against next year. Whenever you hear a Democrat complain about the corrupting influence of money in politics, agree with them – and then present this chart.
Follow Jason on Twitter: @jasonahart
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13 Comments
Just think how fast we could reduce the deficit if we had a Union Tax…..they are like the 1%, only they are 8%!!! They need to pay their FAIR SHARE!!!
What is the benefit of collective bargaining that union keep demanding that every one should have?
Defund the unions. Make it illegal for employers to collect union dues. Make them collect their own dues.
Millions, billions or trillions..it doesn't matter anymore as Wisconsin has proven.
I like the idea of making the unions collect their owns dues, but lets take it one step further and have the govt collect it own taxes directly from the people
Gee, will you look at that. 15 of the top 20 donate almost exclusively to Dems. Yet they want to whine and cry about Citizens United. They're just pissed because their monopoly on political donations might actually get weaker.
NEA – 6th overall, with 82% going to Democrats
AFT – 11th overall, with 90% going to Democrats
Dear Teach,
Almost 70 billion! Wow, that could've been alot of pension money. Why would a teachers group need to spend that kind of dough on politics? Sarc.
billions lost or misplaced of stimilus dollars???fleeced from taxpayers??like progressives are proud to label things,they should advertise "YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK SIGNS"???SINCE THE OBAMA KICK-BACKS GO TO UNIONS??
Thanks for this article and chart. It is totally revealing.
I hope those who read this.. download the chart and email it to all on their lists.
Also, dowload this chart and print it out.
It's a handy tool to have on hand when engaged in 'Political Discussions' !
Alright trolls. Where are all of you "rich corporations control the government" wackos at now?
The Democratic Party makes policy that funnels money to the unions who in turn contribute back to the party to keep their cronies in power.
They are not out of bed yet.
True, that. Since it's not a school day there is no reason for them to get up and hang out around school bus stops.
If Ohio's conservatives actually had support for passing SB 5, they would have been able to raise the money. Since there was no support, there was no money. Pretty simple.
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