Unions Prepare to Spend Over $400M to Re-Elect President
- Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:53pm by
Becket Adams
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Unions say they are gearing up to spend more than $400 million to help re-elect President Barack Obama and lift Democrats this election year in a fight for “labor’s survival,” according to the Associated Press.
Having recently come under close scrutiny around the country — and fearing the consequences of a Republican in the White House — union leaders say they have little choice as they try to beat back GOP efforts to curb “collective bargaining rights” and limit their ability to collect dues.
“People are digging deeper,” said Larry Scanlon, political director of the country’s largest public workers union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). “If Republicans take over the presidency, Congress and enough state legislatures, unions will be out of business, pure and simple.”
By “digging deeper,” he means “collecting dues from workers who have no choice but to pay,” right?
This year, AFSCME is expected to spend at least $100 million or more on political action, including television advertising, phone banks and member canvassing. The effort is to help the president, Democrats running for the House and Senate, gubernatorial candidates, and key state lawmakers.
With increased spending planned by other labor groups, including the powerful Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO, unions are likely to top the $400 million they spent to help elect Obama four years ago.
But not all union expenditures on political action are publicly disclosed, so some numbers are based on self-reporting. That is to say, some union leaders are operating on the “honor system.”
What could possibly go wrong?
Unions have long been known as one of the most reliable supporters of Democratic candidates and their efforts have increased with every election as the threats to organized labor grow. And by “threats,” we mean “efforts to curb their unsustainable spending.”
For instance, as mentioned earlier on 
The Blaze, unions spent more than $40 million last year to repeal an Ohio law that reformed “collective bargaining rights.” They are spending millions more in a bid to recall Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who sought to curb “collective bargaining rights” as a way to balance the state’s budget.
But some unions leaders claim they are being spread thin as they deal with a new wave of measures they say are designed to weaken their clout. Indiana, for example, passed a right-to-work measure earlier this month, and Republicans in New Hampshire are pushing a similar bill. Similarly, legislatures in Arizona and Utah are weighing measures to limit bargaining rights for their public employees.
“Part of the Republican strategy is to try to bleed us,” said Mike Podhorzer, political director of the AFL-CIO. “There are certainly more union members now who understand the importance of political engagement and are willing to go door-to-door and make phone calls and do campaigns.”
Tim Phillips, president of the conservative anti-tax and anti-regulation group Americans for Prosperity, denied any grand strategy to weaken unions. His group, founded with the support of billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, spends millions on anti-Obama and anti-union ads across the country.
“It‘s not accurate to say there’s some master plan to drain resources,” Phillips said. “These are genuine public policy efforts.”
Phillips also said that, for the first time, unions have to confront organized grassroots opposition in a number of states.
“And Americans for Prosperity is absolutely a key component in that,” Phillips said. “The unions have always had the advantage and we are now matching them.”
Back scratch fever.
AFSCME, the 1.6-million member union, started early this year, spending $1 million on television ads during Florida’s GOP presidential primary to weaken Mitt Romney, the candidate organized labor presumes will emerge as the Republican nominee.
The SEIU teamed up with Priorities USA Action, the major super PAC backing Obama, to buy ads in Florida and Nevada accusing Romney of flip-flopping on immigration policy. SEIU is the single largest contributor to Priorities USA after making a $500,000 contribution in December.
The 2.1 million-member union is expected to spend at least $85 million to help Obama win, similar to what it spent in 2008, spokeswoman Jennifer Farmer said.
The AFL-CIO is following a new strategy outlined last summer to contribute less money to specific candidates and spend more on building its infrastructure. The goal is to “lay a foundation for year-round mobilization that keeps going in the months following an election,” the AP reports. Competing for the union money are the various races, from president to state lawmaker.
“We have to use 2012 not just to win for its own sake, but to use as a springboard for 2014 when the governors in all these states are up,” Podhorzer said.
The new strategy is the result of some unions feeling that Democrats in Congress are not doing enough to stand up for labor’s agenda.
The AFL-CIO also started its own labor super PAC, which allows it to raise unlimited amounts of money and mobilize support beyond its traditional base. The new super PAC has already pulled in $3.7 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (109)
Thewayiseeit
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:02pmUnions:
PROOF some people are too ignorant for life, Liberty & the pursuit of happiness.
Unions control who among you works, requires dues even if you don’t, if you
hope to work for them again, at least until you have some amount of seniority.
Yet, still you support them, Still let them control you, Destroying
companies by simply demanding more & more until they crush that employer.
Stupid people support that kind of political manipulation in the hope of a job.
Your greed is your legacy. Good job, you become all that good Americans detest!
since 1990, Unions have given over $600 million to Democrat campaigns.
Gee, I wonder where your pension went… Fool!
Then of course there is the Business aspect:
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/11456
Canada will print the news, Government Media won’t.
You really want a man who is this corrupt running our country?
Well, we have decided, Unions are not worth anything to Americans!
http://www.starhq.com/2011/12/05/educators-dropping-union-memberships/
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/business/22union.html
Watch Unions fail like their pensions, American won’t support failure anymore!
Report Post »mils
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:13pmUnions have out lived their purpose..
Report Post »Do the members actually realize where most of this money ..that is being donated.. comes from?..
fools
jzs
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:24pmOh come on, that’s nothing. The Koch Brothers, who are just two guys, have committed two raise 500 million to defeat Obama. You heard that right, $500,000,000.00 And that’s just two guys! Of course Rove is going to raise a couple of hundred million ($300,000,000.00) and he’s just one guy!
The leftards may have millions of people, tiny, poor pathetic people on their side, but the right has three or four people with billions of dollars on their side. Thank God Almighty for Citizens United which is bringing Democracy to America! Bring it on poor people! You may have millions of people on your side, but the right has billionaires of dollars on are side! And at least three people!
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:50pmTroll alert. Jzs is a troll. Like moncine encinom monicne and tifosa.
Report Post »Just ignore them. They seek to get us off topic and attacking them. Do not fall for it.
Focus on the article and the facts. We seek solutions to our nations problems and they are trying to distract us from doing that. The best way to get their goat is to
IGNORE them.
DO NOT GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
jzs
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:21pmTomFerrari, do you really have a Ferrari? Seriously dude, what’s the horsepower?
Anyway, yes, you should not listen to people who disagree with you. Especially you, because you have no way of justifying your beliefs so they are fragile. Remember the monkeys. No, not sixties Monkeys, the one who said “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. That’s you.
Anyway, how fast have you taken that up too?
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:21pmAgain JZS, you seem to never be able to understand the difference between private moneys and other peoples money being spent. Nor can you people ever seem to understand the severe conflict of interest, having the very people who raise money and campaigning for a candidate, have that very candidate give them a raise. Fleecing the tax payer. Go cry me a river about all the little tiny people, Buffett, Soros, and many other multi-billionaires aren’t all aligned on the right. Regardless, they could donate all the money they want, it isn’t other peoples money. The Unions never asked their members who they want to support or that their money donated would go to a particular candidate. That is BS If they want to raise separate funds, go ahead.
Report Post »mlaslavic
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:46pmI’m sure others besides the Italian car guy are going to target the Koch Bros in their feeble attempt at equivocation but then we have web sites like opensecrets,org that actually gather the data and put it out there for all to see. Sure the Kochs and some employees are big contributors to Republicans but nothing close to a half a billion and that would be real big headlines every day being they are Republicans and evil by default per our unbiased media. By the way the data base is an eye opener. Unfortunately it only confirms the Unions all union have bought our government and a minority of Americans has used our politicians to legislate legal extortion of the rest of us while also allowing them to buy their bosses in effect by funding the campaigns with huge in many cases secret piles of money. Any one else and the Rico act would surely apply but when you own your politicians the way union do the law get hazy,
Report Post »db321
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:30pmI don’t care if they spend 400 Trillion on Obama – lock me in a room and make me watch your ads 24/7 and I still will not vote for the Muslim and Chief! I wont sell out America or my soul for any amount of money.
And all the Unions Workers think they have a retirement plan – you do and you will be able to watch it go up in air time 24/7 in about two months from now. Good Job Useful Idiots.
Report Post »2theADDLED
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:20amWho will the Unions sell their over priced junk to when no one can afford them other union members eventually you will run out of idiots.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:17amFirst: Tom is right as regards the troll alert.
Now, @ Mils “Unions have out lived their purpose” — true, but why? Because government has legislated what the unions were originally for. Specifically, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration meet the genuine needs that were formerly addessed by unions. Now, Unions have become an arm of the government (or vice-versa, I suppose). Sounds sort of Fascist to me.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:48amUnions do serve a purpose… as a Guild of Trade that prevents just anyone from doing the Work that they claim to Protect… and in the name of Protection, alike Gangsters, they get money from Government & their Victums for their Enterprise!
Report Post »midwesthippie
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:28am…it‘s unfortunate but Oblameless will likely win in 2012 and the 400 mill’ will pay dividends for the unions. 400 mill’ is chump-change to the unions. GM alone received billions (on record) in the bailout. did any non-union co.s get bailout (err…taxpayer) money? unions create weakness in the individual…
Report Post »MYHEROISRON
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:05amThe unions are prepared to spend $400 mil to re-elect the communist muslim OBAMMY?
Report Post »That is where my union dues go to? Damn glad I don’t work for a communist muslim union.
drbage
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:28amThe real reason the Dems were so upset with the Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United was it ended their monopoly of the original SuperPac-UNIONS! While the union leadership plans to give away all this money, rank and file should be asking their leaders about the state of the funding of their pension plan because the vast majority of Americans would not support a bailout of union pension funds when (not if) that day comes.
Report Post »Timothy_Reid
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:15amUnfortunately I am forced to agree with midwesthippie. That’s pretty much the way I see things playing out. JZS, you have nothing to actually rgue with. You’re just throwing out crap and calling it fact. But let’s say this all works out and the government divides up the spoils of the “rich”. Amongst who will they be distributed? Did you see where the stimulus money went? It will simply be a different set of cronies all kissing the prez a** for a few more greenbacks. The idea that all will be made equal is about as naive a thought as the way to go about it. It’s amazing how many people absolutely refuse to look at the history of all great civilizations.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:15pmObama behind Trumka. Both hands on his shoulders. Both grinning. At what?
Report Post »jzs
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:03pmHobbs57, I think you’re are a little confused about Citizens United. You say money from a union is not private money and that unions have a conflict of interest. But money donated by a corporation is somehow different (as though employees of the corporation vote on the donations), and is given without any conflict of interest, simply because they think the candidate is a nice guy maybe. Or maybe the corporation flips a coin?
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:55pmUnions aren’t exactly what they claim to be, obviously,
This only serves to prove that. The Soviets had a similar program.
Report Post »Mess23
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:54pm400 million invested in Capitolism because I am sure they will not invest in a third rate media company. How ironic.
I have the option to join the gubermint union. Guess which option I took?
Report Post »Lone Wolf
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:40pmNice to live in a “right to work” state. The union came to my workplace and I‘m glad I didn’t have to give my money to the dems, uh I mean union.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:58pmi am in florida and there is a bill before our senate here that will cut restaurant servers pay in half……….from 4.65 hr to 2.something…….i told the owner of the restaurant that if this happens i can see a union guy walking in every rest. in florida and asking do you want more money and benefits……………..so where will the restaurant owners gain from this bill….not…….this will cost them more in the long run
Report Post »Texas.7
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:39pmWhat is the approval rating for the unions? I would think that the Republican candidate could really highlight that he is running against Obama- and the unions. Maybe people will realize that we are selling our freedom.
Report Post »what4
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:28amGod KILL the Unions! The offical Turd that single handedly trying to plug the progress of the USA! Commies GO elsewhere!
Report Post »Endangered-CA-Conservative
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:37pmNice to see Trumka can still smile while BHO is doing to him what he’s been doing to the USA since Jan 2009. Must have learned it in jail.
Report Post »2smart4libs
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:34pmI love when the union I‘m force to belong to spends money on crap like this and then claims they don’t us any money for political pourposes
Report Post »booger71
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:02pmI spent 7 years working for a company that was unionized and forced to join in order to have a job, and hated every minute of it. Union members, your union bosses are using YOUR DUES that should go for retirement, and other benefits, are going to OBAMA. In return, your UNION BOSSES get money and political favors in return, while you get nothing.
Report Post »ThomasUSA
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:33pmAs long as unions are based in Communistic/Marxist ideology, I can not spend another dime for what they make or support what they do..They, like all the other socialists, hide behind the lie of “for the good of the worker” when it is really just for themselves.
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:31pmSo they are going to pay for all the illegal alien to vote and dead people huh wonder how all those dead people will spend that money
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 8:40amThat’s how it works. Obama takes tax dollars and borrows from China, gives it to unions in the form of bailouts and the unions give it back to Obama for reelection. But, Republicans are crooks for forming superpacs. It’s a great system when nobody in the press will call you on it.
Report Post »ihveit
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:25pmihv.. the union thieves are always at it.. extorting dues etc from hard working people and using that money to support some idiot in the whitehouse.. and they dont give a **** about YOUR VIEWS .. i know that as many republicans as demoCRAPS belong to this money stealing org…
yet YOU HAVE NO SAY … if i were in a uniion who supported someone whom i didnt I WOULD QUIT PAYING GRAFT MONEY TO THEM
Report Post »will
POdVet
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:23pmJust gotta love these unions. They force poor suckers living in trailers and low rent apartments to give them money so the union leaders can live in multimillion dollar mansions. And what benefits do the members receive for their money? Higher prices on gas, food, electric, cigarettes, alcohol etc etc etc. Congratulations moronic union members! You have let your criminal union leaders prove you are the DUMBEST SOB’s on the PLANET!
Report Post »semihardrock
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:21pm2012 is the Election of the USA. Communism vs Freedom!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:28pmThat is the truth plain and simple. We better get it right
Report Post »heyjim55
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:19pmHow many of these Unions got bailout money? and how much of that went flowing back to Obama? Sounds like money laundering to me the same with these green energy companies taking huge grants or loans and then donating huge sums of money back to Obama. I think Obama took tax payer money loaned it out for a while then had it flow back into his campaign pretty slick.
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:18pmIt‘s unfortunate that the union members don’t have the ability to stop payment to their respective unions. Most unions have an arrangement with the employers to automatically deduct dues just like FICA, FUTA, SSA and so on. Most paycheck stubs read like a phone or cable bill with all the auto deducts that are there.
I think our system is broken. Why can government employees have unions represent them in order to take more money from the public coffers without the public’s permission? All of us who actually produce stuff should put down our respective “shovels” and tell the colluding government we have had enough. We aren’t going to take this any longer. We are done. Find some other sucker to pay your triple decker pension because I’m not paying for it.
Sometimes you just have to restart the system to get the junk out of the system. They even close the sewers in Paris for a good cleaning every once in a while.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:18pmUnion murdered my uncle in 1950. They tied him to the ground and dropped a wreaking ball on him. For your own sake remember me when out marching around in circles for communist ideals. I’ll remember you.
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:10pmAnimal Farm. Watch it on Netflix. Amazing parallels between today and this work of satire:
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Animal_Farm/261087?trkid=438403
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:31pm1984 is more like what is coming.
Report Post »AndiAndiAndi
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:32amXLNT analogy.
Report Post »Stiggs
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:08pmAhhhh….I love the smell of desperation in the air….the media are going to love getting all the union money for their own bank accounts for all the advertising and such. His promises have all been broken, the shovel-ready jobs non-existent, healthcare looms over us like a dark cloud, etc, etc, etc. The American people will rise up in November and vote against him.
The gig is up and the party is over.
Report Post »:-)
…but that’s just my opinion.
sb36695
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:06pmWould someone please explain to these people what “Killing the golden goose” means!
Report Post »ALL4FREEDOM
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:06pmQ: What is the difference between organized crime and unions?
A: In unions, the extortion is legal.
This has to stop. Freedom of assembly is a good thing, but said assemblages must all have equal rights and protections under the law. Unions (or any group) should have no more power than, say, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Support National Right To Work!
Report Post »JBaer
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:40pmExactly right!! Wish more people could see that that’s the case.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 9:45pmits the same thing with the current tax laws….flat tax and balance budget
Report Post »TeaPartyForRomney
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:03pmHere is the final debate for the GOP Primary, who will win to take on the Unions millions. Obama’s Billions, and the misuse of the Taxpayers Billions.
Time will only tell: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2012/feb/gop_debate_20.html
Report Post »Look4DBigPicture
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:03pm2012 could be a historical year if the candidate raising the least amount of funding actually wins the election. It’s not about money and negative advertising folks … it’s completely about finding a QUALITY LEADER!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:02pmSo how much of this theft of funds from their members will be used on bribes, graft, theft and setting up massive voter fraud that the left needs to ensure Obama’s win?
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:00pmUnions want “Transparency” into YOUR vote, but they won’t give you freedom of choice. Sounds like Soviet style apparatchiks.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:23pmWe always know how the “Party Members” vote, they just want to know how YOU vote.
Report Post »txjb
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:00pm$400 mil. of union members dues , they paid out . Poor saps !!
Report Post »mr.goodvibe
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 10:35pmDon’t be worried , I am sure a large portion of that came from the taxpayer in some form.
Report Post »Abraham Young
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:59pmLet me get this straight. OBAMA uses the government monopoly to nationalize businesses such as GM, and the UNIONS want to use their labor monopoly to take over businesses as well?
ANIMAL FARM is coming true. The pigs are taking over and giving us the propaganda spiel they think we will help them?
Union members, unite against your so called “leaders” who do nothing more than use YOUR money against you, monopolizing you into a mob, taking away your individual representation to achieve THEIR agenda, THEIR goals, THEIR dominion over you.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:18pmOnly pigs can wear clothes
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 7:58pmIn the old days this used to be called extortion, making people give you money, or else. Today, it’s just collecting dues. I am so glad only my tax money goes to help this swine.
Report Post »