Public sector unions are among Washington’s heavyweight political contributors. The American Society of County, State and Municipal Employees, for example, was the largest single campaign donor in 2010, spending $87.5 million. Nearly all of AFSCME’s money, along with the tens of millions spent by other public sector unions, went to Democrats.
The Examiner has compiled the 10 largest recipients of public sector union money now serving in Congress. Besides their total of campaign cash from the government employee unions in 2010, we also looked at how they voted on the two bills most favored by public sector union last year, and how dependent they are on public sector unions as a source of campaign funds.
Partisan campaign contributions by public sector unions are controversial because they come from dues money collected from taxpayer-funded salaries paid to workers who have no choice in the matter.
By demanding compensation that is typically far more generous than that earned by private sector workers doing the same kinds of jobs, these unions have played a major role in pushing countless state and local governments to the edge of fiscal calamity.
It’s estimated that the liabilities for public sector union pensions could exceed $3 trillion, and are creating debts that threaten to bankrupt cities and states around the country.
Yet, even as public sector unions continue to rack up massive taxpayer debts for a small percentage of the population, the 111th Congress did them favors. Last year, the Democratic Congress voted on two major pieces of legislation to benefit public sector unions.
The first of the two was a bill authorizing $10 billion in federal subsidies for local teacher salaries. At a time when nearly 10 percent of the country was unemployed, Democrats paid big time to keep favored public school teachers employed.
In fact, the political director of the National Education Association said the teacher bailout was “a turning point” in the union’s decision to spend $15 million on ads for Democrats in last year’s election.
The other piece of legislation was the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act that would force cities and states to bargain collectively with emergency response personnel. Of the nation’s 1.1 million firefighters, 830,000 are volunteers.
But if this bill becomes law, unions will be empowered to replace volunteers with expensive dues-paying union members. Not coincidentally, this would also result in a much bigger pool of union money for Democratic campaign cash.
Who: Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $123,000
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Hoyer depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were Hoyer’s ninth largest source of campaign cash.
Who: Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.
How much did she receive from public sector unions?: $122,500
Did she vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did she vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Mikulski depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were Mikulski’s 10th largest source of campaign cash.
Who: Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $120,750
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Connolly depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were Connolly’s No. 1 source of campaign cash.
Who: Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
How much did she receive from public sector unions?: $108,900
Did she vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did she vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Murray depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were not among Murray’s top 20 largest industry contributors.
Who: Rep. Mark Critz, D-Pa.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $101,500
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Critz depend on public sector union campaign cash?: Compared with other industries, public sector unions were Critz’ third largest source of campaign cash.
Who: Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $101,500
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Owens depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were Owens’ fifth largest source of campaign cash.
Who: Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
How much did she receive from public sector unions?: $98,300
Did she vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did she vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Boxer depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were not among Boxer’s top 20 largest industry contributors.
Who: Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $91,500
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Lynch depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were Lynch’s No. 1 source of campaign cash.
Who: Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Mass.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $89,700
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Van Hollen depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were Van Hollen’s fourth largest source of campaign cash.
Who: Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
How much did he receive from public sector unions?: $89,150
Did he vote against volunteer firemen and in favor of unionizing public safety employees?: Yes
Did he vote for the $10 billion teachers union bailout?: Yes
How much does Reid depend on public sector union campaign cash? Public sector unions were not among Reid’s top 20 largest industry contributors.
Mark Hemingway is an editorial page staff writer for The Examiner. He can be reached at [email protected].
