AFL-CIO to spend $40 million on elections

[im10ashus]

By Mark Preston
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The AFL-CIO announced Wednesday it will spend $40 million on get-out-the-vote operations for the midterm elections in an effort to try to drive congressional Republicans from power as well as win governorships in 21 states across the country.

"We will play the largest role we've ever played in electing the candidates we've endorsed in many of the pivotal, competitive races for the House and Senate," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said at a pre-Labor Day news conference detailing the federation's election year program.

Sweeney said most of the money will be spent on helping to mobilize union voters, not to directly make contributions to Democratic candidates.

AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman said the organization is focusing on mobilizing "more than 12.4 million voters in 21 top-tier states." In addition to the 21 gubernatorial contests, the AFL-CIO also said it is "actively engaged" in 50 House races and 15 Senate contests.

More...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/30/aflcio.spending/index.html

[Selatius]

1. I thought the AFL-CIO broke apart? n/t

[im10ashus]

2. No.

They are still around.

http://www.aflcio.org/

[shadowknows69]

3. Just powerless in a rethug administration

hpefully that will all change soon. Kudos to the AFL-CIO

[im10ashus]

4. I think it is wise they are using most of their money to get out the vote.

As opposed to donating to specific candidates. I personally think that will be more effective. :shrug:

[readmoreoften]

6. A few unions split from it. Such as UNITE HERE.

I support all unions, but I'm not a fan of UNITE HERE. It has the reputation of being the "Republican" union. It's members deserve better.

[readmoreoften]

5. Proud Member of the AFL-CIO. /nt

[im10ashus]

7. Rock on!

I used to be a member of the printers union about 1,000 years ago. B-)

[jwirr]

8. In our area Unions will not only supply money but workers. They

are one of the strongholds for Democrats but in the past many fell for reguns idiocy. Let us take our country back for the working people of the world.

[Omaha Steve]

9. AFSCME is spending $ on CANDIDATES & redistricting

I had my picture taken with Dino Ben Nelson just before the Ne. primary. He was smiling because he just got $10,000 from my international AFSCME!

Here is the redistricting story: http://afscmeblog.org/?cat=10

President McEntee — “Winning on Redistricting”
Friday, August 18th, 2006

President McEntee blogs today at Huffington Post about AFSCME’s new political action committee created to ensure the right-wing doesn’t railroad gerrymanderd federal redistricting plans in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Here’s an exerpt:

Yesterday, in Nashville, TN, AFSCME announced the creation of Foundation for the Future - a new 527 group we are creating in partnership with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and NCEC Services.

The mission of the Foundation for the Future is to help Democrats prepare for the congressional redistricting fights that will occur in a few short years.

The stakes are high. Over the next decade, 36 state legislatures will determine congressional district maps - and of these, 20 have at least one chamber within four seats of changing hands.