Union bosses desperate to block worker freedom in Ohio funneled over $100,000 to Republicans during the pre-primary reporting period while those same Republicans assured primary voters of their “conservative” credentials.
Despite having a Republican governor and Republican supermajorities in both houses of the legislature, Ohio is one of 26 states where workers can be forced to pay union dues as a condition of employment. Legislation to change this has gone nowhere.
Union bosses thrive on public spending, which leads them to donate millions to Ohio Democrats during every election cycle. But union money has also padded the campaign accounts of numerous big-government Ohio Republicans.
Following are several of the top Republican recipients of union funding during the pre-primary campaign finance period, with figures from the secretary of state rounded to the nearest dollar.
In some cases — namely, reports from Barbara Sears and Anne Gonzales — unions reported contributions that were not listed on the candidates’ reports when data were retrieved last night.
Sarah LaTourette
Sarah LaTourette Kayser, the daughter of union-beloved former congressman Steve LaTourette who is seeking the Republican nomination in the 76th Ohio House District under her maiden name, received union contributions including:
•$5,000 from Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) Local 33
•$2,500 from Ohio Council of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
•$1,500 from Cement Masons Local 404
•$1,500 from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 880
A $12,156 donation from her father’s union-funded congressional campaign account was LaTourette’s top receipt during the reporting period. Her second-highest contribution was $10,000 from Obamacare Medicaid expansion supporter Virginia Ragan.
Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton)
Five of the seven largest contributions Sen. Oelslager received during the most recent reporting period came from labor unions.
Union contributions to Oelslager included:
•$9,500 from Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), Local 11 of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
•$5,000 from Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199
•$4,000 from SMWIA Local 33
•$3,656 from Ohio Education Association (OEA)
•$2,000 from International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
•$1,500 from Ohio Council of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
•$1,500 from Ohio Nurses Association (ONA)
•$1,000 from SMWIA Local 24
Oelslager is being challenged for the Republican nomination in Ohio Senate District 29 by Dennis Harbert.
Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.)
Rep. Sears, who is seeking reelection in Ohio House District 47 and faces a primary challenge from Scott Allegrini, received union contributions including:
•$4,000 from SMWIA Local 33 — her third-largest contribution of the reporting period
•$2,000 from ONA
•Donations of $1,000 and $250 from Ohio Iron Workers Association
•$1,000 from Laborers District Council of Ohio
•$1,000 from UFCW Local 880
Rep. Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville)
Rep. Gonzales, challenged for the Republican nomination in Ohio House District 19 by Meta Hahn, received union contributions including:
•$1,500 from ONA
•$1,000 from Ohio State Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters
•$1,000 from Affiliated Construction Trades Ohio
•Donations of $1,000 and $250 from Ohio Iron Workers Association
•$1,000 from Laborers District Council of Ohio
More of list at link:
http://mediatrackers.org/ohio/2014/04/25/union-bosses-keep-funneling-money-ohio-republicans
