Political Spending by Government Unions During the 2014 Election

Taxpayer-Collected Campaign Contributions

Workers' contributions to government union Political Action Committees (PACs) are voluntary, but the collection of this PAC money is anything but. Taxpayers are required to subsidize the collection of campaign contributions for government unions, a political and financial privilege no other private organization enjoys.

According to the most recent state campaign finance reports, the PACs of seven Pennsylvania government unions donated more than $10.5 million to candidates in the 2013-2014 election cycle.

In contrast, these PACs spent just $5.5 million during the 2011-2012 election cycle. In other words, taxpayers helped unions spend 89 percent more on election politics this year as compared to just two years ago.

Influence in the Governor’s Race

Government unions, never afraid to wield their political privilege, have financed candidates—through PAC contributions— amenable to their wishes, such as current Governor-elect Tom Wolf. According to PublicSource, four of the top ten contributors to Tom Wolf were government unions, giving Mr. Wolf more than $2.3 million this past election.

All told, he received more than $3.4 million from twelve government unions that donated at least $5,000 to his campaign.

Super PACs

Taxpayers don’t just subsidize the collection of government unions' PAC money; they are also forced to collect union dues, which can then be directed toward a variety of political activities on behalf of candidates.

One of these activities is the funding of "Super PACs." Under federal court rulings, Super PACs can collect an unlimited amount of union dues to fund campaign efforts. They can then spend an unlimited amount of money in support of or opposition to a candidate, so long as their efforts are "independent' of the candidate's own campaign. This typically means paying for TV or radio ads supporting or opposing a candidate.

In 2014, three government unions funneled $1.6 million to PA Families First, a Super PAC established by the Democratic Governors' Association, according to Pennsylvania Department of State records.

These contributions helped PA Families First televise the two ads below, which slammed Governor Corbett for cutting education spending.

Dues-Funded Political Expenditures

Super PACs are just one of the many political expenditures financed by union dues. There are countless examples of dues-funded political advocacy. Government unions can and have used their members’ dues—many times without their knowledge—for a variety of political activities in support of candidates. Here are a number of examples from the 2014 election:

Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA)

• The PSEA attacked Governor Corbett for cutting education funding, a claim we have debunked frequently.
• The PSEA paid for a mailer urging voters to elect Tom Wolf in November.
• The PSEA sent out a mailer claiming Tom Wolf is "the fresh start we need for public schools."

Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

• The PFT spent dues at the rate of $70,000 per minute on a misleading television ad (below) blaming Governor Corbett for cutting education spending.

• The PFT sent out an email to its members explaining how important it is to elect Tom Wolf as governor.
• Another email was sent out to PFT members in September, urging teachers to canvass for Tom Wolf.
• The PFT's own dues-funded website has an “Election 2014” corner urging members to help elect Tom Wolf.
• The PFT's social media accounts contain advocacy on behalf of Tom Wolf.

American Federation of Teachers – Pennsylvania (AFT-PA)

• AFT-PA spent its members’ dues on this mailer hammering Tom Corbett for cutting education spending, among other things.
• The AFT-PA has used its social media platform to campaign for Tom Wolf.

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)

• The AFT announced it will be spending more on politics ($20 million) this year than any prior year in the union’s history.
• The AFT posted a video (below) of a PFT rally in which the president of the AFT, Randi Weingarten, yelled "This Governor is morally bankrupt and he has got to go!" as "Crush Corbett" signs were waved.

National Education Association (NEA)

• Time Magazine reported the NEA was on pace to spend $40 to $60 million this past election cycle.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Pennsylvania

• The SEIU has a webpage dedicated to encouraging members to help get-out-the-vote for Tom Wolf.
• The SEIU has produced numerous videos of union employees touting their support for Tom Wolf.

United Food and Commercial Workers Union 1776 (UFCW)

• UFCW posted the following anti-Republican video from Keystone Progress PAC on their Twitter page.

The evidence is overwhelming: Unions use members' dues and taxpayer resources to push their political agenda. By passing paycheck protection, Pennsylvania can move toward leveling the political playing field, making Pennsylvania fairer for all those engaged in the political process.