Buffalo News - Legislature Democrats stay true to labor-friendly roots
    Unions helped give Democrats control of county government, and that support has paid off.

    By MATTHEW SPINA
    News Staff Reporter
    6/26/2006
    Erie County’s Democratic lawmakers are showing a zeal for pro-labor causes. But then, organized labor fortified last year’s election campaigns and helped the party cement its grip on the County Legislature.

    Unions and pro-labor groups in 2005 invested $80,000 in the Democrats, who took control of the Legislature, 12-3, when their previous edge over Republicans had been 8-7. Pro-labor donations to today’s Democratic lawmakers tripled those from business owners and dwarfed any other special interest.

    The $80,000 does not include donations from individual union officials. Nor does it count the invaluable support unions offer by passing nominating petitions, circulating leaflets and dialing up voters for candidates they like.

    It averages out to $8,000 for each Democratic incumbent when excluding Buffalo’s Demone A. Smith, who had not filed his 2005 campaign reports as of last week, and West Seneca’s Cynthia Locklear, who, as a Primary Challenge-sponsored candidate, sought no money from special interests.

    The donations didn’t flow from just those unions that represent county workers and want to protect their jobs and benefits. Money poured in from unions that want to become more effective through laws requiring apprentice-training programs, private-sector health care benefits or project labor agreements on public projects.

    Their influence, through money and manpower, can’t be ignored. It can cost $45,000 to $55,000 to run a Legislature campaign through a contested primary and general election.

    “When you consider the “rule of three’ - that every member can influence three votes - that’s a lot of votes,” said Michelle Marto, who works in the political department for Local 1199, Service Employees International Union, which has 4,500 members in Erie County and gave about $14,000 to Democratic incumbents. more here..

Please read the rest, Matt Spina gives you a little more insight with facts and figures. I can only imagine what kind of money will be needed to run for assembly.

Needless to say we don’t have to wonder why most legislation coming out of Erie County and Albany benefits the unions. I think there should be an investigation into who negotiates coontracts and who benefits with campaign contributions. Also an investigation into union payoffs to legislators for favorable votes that benefit the unions. If you are a union employee are you happy with the representation the union bosses are giving you? Are you happy to see all your union dues being spent to buy off legislators and taxpayers expense?

I wouldn’t be.