Unions Pouring Big Money in Pennsylvania Elections

As we’ve pointed out in the past, unions—often using campaign contributions collected at taxpayer expense—dominate political spending and electioneering.

Well, the first campaign finance reports for the 2014 gubernatorial election have been released, and sure enough, unions (along with millionaires self-financing their own campaigns) are pouring money in. As Media Trackers PA reports, union PACs have given more than $500,000 directly to candidates already, not counting the millions unions spend from dues supporting or opposing candidates with independent ads.

Media Trackers’ review of campaign finance documents filed with the PA Department of State reveals that, to date, labor unions have collectively made contributions totaling more than $550,000 to State Treasurer Rob McCord and Montgomery County Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz.

We’ve noted before the unfortunate irony that State Treasurer Rob McCord signs the checks that fund government union PACs before those union PACs contribute to his (or his opponents’) campaign.

Another former state treasurer has also weighed in on the issue of taxpayer collection of union political money. Bob Casey, now U.S. Senator, also signed checks from the state treasury over to government union PACs, while his campaigns were funded by those same union PACs. According to FollowtheMoney.org, Casey’s top eight “noteworthy contributors” as a candidate for state offices were all Union PACS, five of which use taxpayer resources to help collect their political money.

Not surprising, Casey supports this political power cycle.

TABLE 2: Noteworthy Contributors to CASEY JR, BOB

Noteworthy Contributor

Years

Records

↓Total↓

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
Public Sector Unions
2002-2004 9 $840,000
UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
General Trade Unions
2000-2002 8 $170,500
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS
General Trade Unions
2002-2004 5 $105,900
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
Transportation Unions
2002 2 $100,000
ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 98
General Trade Unions
2004 6 $49,500
PENNSYLVANIA AFL-CIO
General Trade Unions
2000-2004 23 $31,600
AFSCME COUNCIL 13
Public Sector Unions
2004 4 $20,000
ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY FACULTIES
Public Sector Unions
2004 2 $20,000

Taxpayer resources should never be used for politics. Click here to tell your lawmakers to end this practice and its corrupting influence.