Federal employee groups step up political efforts as fall elections approach

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0708/071408ar1.htm

By Alyssa Rosenberg [e-mail] July 14, 2008

As the party conventions and general election season draw closer, federal employee groups are ramping up their political contributions and mobilizing members to support candidates and raise awareness about their priorities.

In the presidential campaign, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will benefit primarily from those efforts. Obama has received the endorsement of four federal employee unions: the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

"As federal employees, our members have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the Bush administration's misguided policies, but with Sen. Obama, we can right the direction of this country," said AFGE president John Gage, a superdelegate, when he endorsed Obama in May.

The national Active and Retired Federal Employees Association does not endorse political candidates. The International Association of Machinists, the National Federation of Federal Employees' parent union, voted present at the AFL-CIO's endorsement vote, rather than give Obama a full endorsement.

Beyond presidential endorsements, federal employee organizations also are investing heavily in congressional elections, focusing their giving on House Democratic incumbents.

* NTEU, which has 150,000 members, contributed $211,000 to candidates as of late June, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. Of that figure, 96 percent went to Democrats and 4 percent to Republicans. NTEU gave $168,100 to House Democrats; $7,000 to House Republicans; $34,900 to House Democrats and $1,000 to one Senate Republican, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

* NATCA, with 20,000 members, has allocated $1.6 million in political contributions -- 77 percent to Democrats and 23 percent to Republicans. Of that total, sitting House Democrats received $1.12 million; House Republicans, $320,000; Senate Democrats, $142,225 and Senate Republicans, $52,500.

* NARFE has given $206,500 to political candidates, with Democrats claiming 80 percent of those funds and Republicans receiving 20 percent. The organization gave $142,500 to House Democrats; $35,000 to House Republicans; $22,000 to Senate Democrats and $7,000 to Senate Republicans.


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