Unions outspending corporations on campaign ads despite court ruling

[undeterred]

Source: Washington Post

By T.W. Farnam
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Labor unions have dominated spending on independent campaign ads so far this election season, despite a recent Supreme Court decision that freed spending by corporations, a Washington Post analysis shows.

The findings are an indication that corporate money is not flooding into campaigns as many predicted would happen after the landmark decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

So far this year, $24.7 million in independent spending has been reported to the Federal Election Commission, campaign filings show. Unions have spent $9.7 million (or 39 percent of the total), compared with $6.4 million (or 26 percent) spent by individuals and $3.4 million spent by corporations.

Not all spending on political ads is included in the totals. So-called issue ads, which mention candidates and their positions but offer no candidate endorsement, do not have to be reported to the government unless they run directly before an election.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/06/AR2010070602133.html?hpid=topnews

[rurallib]

1. Let's see what happens in October.

[rpannier]

9. BINGO

The Unions have been heavily involved in several primaries
The Corporations are most likely waiting til it gets closer

[Enthusiast]

11. It will be a media blitz

like never before in history.

[Gman]

2. There is a dilema for some candidates

like who wants corporate contributions from BP on their statement?

[No Elephants]

14. .....

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS337US337&q=british+petroleum+political+contributions&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=British+Petroleum+political+contributions&gs_rfai=

[LiberalFighter]

3. I call bullshit. I wonder what side Farnam backs.

[undeterred]

5. I'm skeptical too.

When the court ruled, George Will said it was good news for the likes of the Sierra Club.

:rofl: Yeah, right.

[jody]

4. Many workers in right to work states are conservative on divisive, polarizing political issues and

they oppose using their union dues as contributions to candidates that do not support their position on those political issues.

IMO that is an important factor impeding efforts to unionize businesses in those states.

[No Elephants]

12. I thought only PACs contributed, not the unions per se? An employee can ban use of his or her dues

for political purposes. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/rpt/2005-R-0232.htm

[jody]

16. Thanks for the link. n/t

[Proletariatprincess]

6. Im a strong supporter of the trade union movement......

and mobililzing the membership to support issues that are important to working people is an important part of the movement.
Contributions from union funds to candidates, however, is not where Labor should spend it's dollars. But labor leaders are just regular folks and they are swept along with the access and the sweet talk they get from policians when money is involved. It's understandable, but undesirable. Maybe even unavoidable, but I still don't like it.

[No Elephants]

13. Disagree about how labor should spend dollars. Also, see Reply # 12.

You can support an issue until the cows come home. It does you no good if the only people actually voting on the issue are anti-labor.

[OHdem10]

7. Just before the election, watch out.

[alp227]

8. haha corporations have a bad rep now b/c of recession and oil spill

who honestly wants to be known to be funded by BPee or Goldman Sucks? But this is some good news so far. Let's see if the money is any meaningful though.

[Canuckistanian]

10. That's interesting

Obviously, the corporations see no cost/benefit advantages to this election.

I see that as a win.

[No Elephants]

15. Premature explanation. Just wait.

[bitchkitty]

17. Key phrase: so far.

I'll reserve judgment until October.

[Earth_First]

18. Let's face it, mid-term elections are not as closely watched by your 'typical' voter...

turnout is generally lower which is indicitive of fewer average voters paying attention.

You don't think that the individuals responsible for spending millions of dollars do not pay attention to these trends...?