Unions largest special interest group

Guess how much money the top unions, such as the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, gave in campaign contributions to candidates and parties in the last 20 years? According to the Center for Responsive Politics, they gave over $500 million.

Does it surprise anyone that they gave over 95 percent of these campaign contributions to the Democratic Party and candidates. As a friend of mine quipped, how do the Republicans ever win any elections?

The old argument used to be that business only supports Republicans. That may have been true 50 years ago, but today, as an example, there are more business tycoons in the Senate who are Democrats than Republicans. Unions today are the nation’s biggest special interest group.

Is it any wonder the Democratic Party works hand in glove with all the major labor unions? Illinois has a current unfunded pension liability of a staggering $82 billion, second highest in the nation to California, and its expected to grow to $139 billion in 2030.

Now, consider how these unions collect $500 million. In order to work for a union you pay union dues depending on the union roughly between $300 and $1,000 per year. But here’s the rub. Most union members have no say (zero input) into which candidate or party gets the money.

Is it any wonder unions from all over the United States sent thousands of union members to Wisconsin and Ohio to protest against losing their collective bargaining rights. They are afraid their game may be up.

Finally, of the $82 billion in unfunded pension liability in Illinois, $46 billion goes to pensions covering schoolteachers and administrators alone. That’s about $6,300 for each of the 13 million people in Illinois. Anyone think it’s time for a change?

Larry T. O’Neill

Palatine