In 2010, AFSCME reported spending $13 million independently on the elections, the sixth-most of any outside group and second-most of any labor union that cycle. About 80 percent of the union’s independent expenditures went toward opposing Republican congressional candidates while the other 20 percent was spent supporting Democrats.

 

By Adam Wollner at OpenSecrets.org

 

Lee Saunderswas chosen to succeed outgoing President Gerry McEntee, who had held the position since 1981. Under his watch, AFSCME — the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — was one of the nation’s most politically active labor unions. In 2010, AFSCME reported spending $13 million independently on the elections, the sixth-most of any outside group and second-most of any labor union that cycle. About 80 percent of the union’s independent expenditures went toward opposing Republican congressional candidates while the other 20 percent was spent supporting Democrats.

Saunders will look to provide a much-needed boost for organized labor following a devastating defeat in the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election and an increasingly unfavorable overall political landscape. On top of that, the Supreme Court dealt a big blow to public employee unions with a decision on Thursday. Nevertheless, unions will also be asked to help pick up the fundraising slack of Democratic super PACs, who have been vastly outpaced by conservative outside groups this cycle.

 

Editor’s note:

In June 2010 we pointed out data from OpenSecrets.org that shows how Democrats are owned by big labor unions.

Consider:

The best government money can buy -top 20 public sector union paid politicians

 

This is a list of the 20 legislators who have received the most funds from public sector unions. Now you see why unions which make up only 12% of the work force get 100% of the favors from Democrats.

Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) $1,017,978

Kildee, Dale E (D-MI) $608,789

Obey, David R (D-WI) $574,400

Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) $551,706

Ackerman, Gary (D-NY) $537,400

Frost, Martin (D-TX) $534,761

Levin, Sander (D-MI) $519,975

DeLauro, Rosa L (D-CT) $505,050

Slaughter, Louise M (D-NY) $500,270

Waxman, Henry A (D-CA) $494,415

Rangel, Charles B (D-NY) $493,150

Bonior, David E (D-MI) $491,466

Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) $488,500

Evans, Lane (D-IL) $486,240

Abercrombie, Neil (D-HI) $482,680

Edwards, Chet (D-TX) $479,506

Pallone, Frank Jr (D-NJ) $470,600

Hill, Baron (D-IN) $445,750

Gephardt, Richard A (D) $444,800

Lampson, Nick (D-TX) $434,400

And remember all the money from public sector unions comes from tax payers who pay the salaries of the union workers whose dues are then confiscated by the unions for buying politicians to support the unions.

What happens when you count just industrial unions?

Gephardt, Richard A (D) $559,409

Bonior, David E (D-MI) $553,420

Green, Gene (D-TX) $551,750

Strickland, Ted (D-OH) $508,894

Levin, Sander (D-MI) $501,214

Holden, Tim (D-PA) $496,425

Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) $493,056

Kildee, Dale E (D-MI) $491,312

Costello, Jerry F (D-IL) $473,700

Abercrombie, Neil (D-HI) $464,710

Visclosky, Pete (D-IN) $462,800

Frost, Martin (D-TX) $461,198

Kaptur, Marcy (D-OH) $458,310

Obey, David R (D-WI) $452,900

Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) $449,662

Thompson, Bennie G (D-MS) $448,314

Lampson, Nick (D-TX) $446,100

Evans, Lane (D-IL) $444,710

Stupak, Bart (D-MI) $443,000

Gordon, Bart (D-TN) $442,250

Gee, do we see a pattern here? How about when you just count building trade unions?

Abercrombie, Neil (D-HI) $585,900

Pallone, Frank Jr (D-NJ) $555,575

Holden, Tim (D-PA) $514,169

Gephardt, Richard A (D) $504,579

Levin, Sander (D-MI) $485,015

Miller, George (D-CA) $460,000

Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) $455,720

Obey, David R (D-WI) $447,750

Hill, Baron (D-IN) $446,550

Sanchez, Loretta (D-CA) $445,400

Andrews, Robert E (D-NJ) $433,623

Evans, Lane (D-IL) $432,000

Kildee, Dale E (D-MI) $424,671

Visclosky, Pete (D-IN) $419,990

LoBiondo, Frank A (R-NJ) $419,799

Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) $411,450

Payne, Donald M (D-NJ) $407,160

Bonior, David E (D-MI) $403,420

Boswell, Leonard L (D-IA) $402,050

Edwards, Chet (D-TX) $400,150

 

I’ll let you do the math but as you can see your supposed representatives in congress are bought and paid for by unions. I’ll bet if you sit down and check, the legislators with the most union contributions are from the most bankrupt states. This is ‘progressive’ government at its finest.

Source for these figures is opensecrets.org. Its a great eye opening web site to spend a little time on. See who is buying your legislator.

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