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Public-Employees Union No. 1 Election Spender

1.6-million member AFSCME spends $87.5M on campaign

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 22, 2010 8:44 AM CDT

(Newser) – The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees has become the biggest outside donor to the midterm elections, thanks to a last-minute push of funds to Democrats that brings its total election spending to $87.5 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. The organization, which boasts 1.6 million members, pulled from a $16 million emergency fund and took out a $2 million loan last week in its effort to help the Dems.

Some conservatives argue that public-sector unions have undue influence; critics hold they are essentially government-funded, since members’ paychecks come from the state. With “a lot of people attacking public-sector workers as the problem,” said the group's president, “we're spending big. And we're damn happy it's big. And our members are damn happy it's big—it's their money.”

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Gerald McEntee talks to attendees at the AFCSME convention in San Francisco on Monday, July 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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Showing 3 of 11 comments

JohnnyHamburger

Oct 22, 2010 2:26 PM CDT

OMG! I THOUGHT EVIL BIG BUSINESS WAS BUYING THIS ELECTION NOT EVIL UNIONS! IT JUST GOES TO YOU HOW EVIL THE LEFT IS! ITT: Liberals believe unions are somehow less evil than big business. Unions ARE big business.

jb_sr

Oct 22, 2010 10:34 AM CDT

Ya see - - - - Elections ARE bought - - highest spender wins the minds of voters ? ? ? ? How intelligent can we really be ? ? ?

postroad

Oct 22, 2010 9:32 AM CDT

DOESN'T THIS REALLY MEAN THAT THIS GROUP HAS ACKNOWLEDGED WHAT IT SPENDS AND THAT MANY CORPORATIONS AND ENTITIES NO LONGER HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THEY GIVE OR HOW MUCH THEY GIVE, SO THAT THE WSJ IS TRYING TO MAKE THIS UNION GROUP LOOK BAD? (it is Caps Day nationally so there)

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Public-Employees Union No. 1 Election Spender

1.6-million member AFSCME spends $87.5M on campaign

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Democrats • Senate Democrats • union • campaign fundraising • congressional Democrats • AFSCME • Democratic candidates • Election 2010 • midterm elections • campaign spending

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