New Revenue Source for Governments: the Unions

The Catholic Church is careful when election season rolls around to make sure no priest makes any formal endorsement of a candidate from the ambo (the lectern from which a priest delivers his homily) - because doing such would jeopardize the tax-exempt status of the Church.  The Church may preach as to issues; thus, in a state like Califormia where issues such as gay marriage form the basis for propositions whereby the electorate seek to amend the state constitution to make marriage defined to be only the union of a man and a woman (I know, people still mistakenly refer to Proposition 8 as making gay marriage "illegal"), the Church may speak to the issue as it stands in accordance with Church teaching.

But back to individual candidates - using the ambo as  a bullly pulpit against or for a particular candidate would mean interference in government dealings and thus would forfeit a church's tax exempt status.

Fair enough.  As Christ said, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's."

But what about unions?

Unions are considered non-profit organizations and also enjoy a tax-exempt status.  Except they also enjoy a unique status:  they regularly endorse specific candidates; they regularly make donations to political parties and candidates.

Between 1989 to present:

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) contributed $31,342,403 to candidates/parties.  91% of that went to . . . Democrats.  0% went to Republicans.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) contributed $27,344,832 to candidates/parties.  98% of that went to . . . Democrats.  0% went to Republicans.

The Teamsters Union contributed $30,858,309 to candidates/parties.  89% of that went to . . . Democrats.  whoa . . . 6% went to Republicans.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) contirbuted $37,151,289 to candidates/parties.  75% of that went to . . . Democrats.  2% went to Republicans.

Interesting numbers, especially since they are not evenly spaced out over the years but rise with time, meaning the most money contributed seems to be during the last fe years of an economic recession.  That would be a time when their members needed assistance but this money went to politicians instead.  Makes you wonder just how big their war chests are.

And now the union members are joing the all Street "occupiers" to march against corporate greed.

I smell money.  And it's in the unions pockets.  Isn't it time for them to pay their fair share?