Organized Labor and Citizens United
In the midst of two Hill hearings on the Citizens United decision, the Chamber’s Steven Law has an OpEd in today’s Wall Street Journal about the “unmentioned” yet top beneficiary of the Supreme Court’s decision:
The unmentioned winners massively outspend any corporation on politics. By their own admission, they dropped roughly half a billion dollars in the 2008 elections, overwhelming any group representing business.
Despite enjoying access to the highest reaches of the federal government, many of this group's leaders avoid detection of their lobbying simply by removing their names from official lobbying databases. One of the group's most powerful executives referred to its legislative shopping list as "payback" in return for lavishing financial support on politicians. And if that weren't enough, the group even represents thousands of foreigners.
So what is this political powerhouse that Washington politicians dare not mention by name? Organized labor.
Law underscores why unions are far better positioned to take advantage of the ruling and suggest what should be on the table as lawmakers lawmakers evaluate responses to the ruling. He concludes:
There is a great deal of hyperventilating on Capitol Hill these days about the power of corporations. There is conspicuous silence about organized labor. Coincidentally, unions give nine out of 10 election dollars to the party that currently runs Washington. If Congress attempts to inhibit corporate political speech while treating unions with kid gloves, that's not reform. It's just another special-interest payback.
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