AFSCME, Public Employees Union, Is No. 1 Election Spender -- for Now

[Recursion]

Source: Politics Daily

Two top newspapers are examining two of the top spenders in this year's campaigns. The Wall Street Journal says the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is the no. 1 independent spender. The New York Times delves into public records to identify corporations that are helping to fund policy battles and record campaign spending by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

According to the Journal, AFSCME is spending $87.5 million -- more than anyone else, but the title could be temporary depending on what happens in the next 10 days. The union's money comes from dues paid by its 1.6 million members.

State and local governments have been devastated by the recession and are dependent on Congress for money to limit layoffs of teachers, cops, firefighters and other workers. AFSCME President Gerald McEntee called the spending big and said members are "damn happy it's big."

...

More than 90 percent of the chamber's campaign spending is going to help Republicans. The group is the No. 1 campaign spender, aside from party committees, in a chart from the Center for Responsive Politics. The chart lists AFSCME as sixth but does not include all of the union's spending.


Read more: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/22/afscme-public-employees-union-is-no-1-election-spender-for/

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So there seems to be some disagreement based on how you count the money. Still, this is good news.

Edit: typo

[ProSense]

1. WSJ distortion

As the WSJ points out: "Spending totals are still in flux, and another group could overtake AFSCME in the race's remaining days."

The NYT chart is based on actual spending to date.

Center for Responsive Politics: Chamber spent "$28.2million" more than any other independent group

Even if AFSCME were to spend $87 million (and it's also not clear from the WSJ piece if that's a total for the official election months), it's a union and subject to strict disclosure. By comparison, the $75 million allocated for the elections by the Chamber of Commerce is secret money. As the NYT chart shows, most of the top outside groups don't disclose.

[Recursion]

2. I'm just happy we're talking the same order of magnitude here NT

[Omaha Steve]

3. I'm a proud AFSCME member

K&R!