Frustrated with Democrats, some large unions cut back on donations
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on May 22nd, 2011 4:34 am by HL
Frustrated with Democrats, some large unions cut back on donations
Some of the nation’s largest labor unions are cutting back dramatically on their financial support to the Democratic Party, saying they are highly frustrated with the failure of Democrats to put up stronger resistance to Republican proposals opposed by labor.
The unions have cited what they see as Democrats’ tepid response to Republican efforts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public sector workers, cut Medicare funding and require voters to show identification at the polls.
“It doesn’t matter if candidates and parties are controlling the wrecking ball or simply standing aside,” said Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, in a speech Friday. “The outcome is the same either way. If leaders aren’t blocking the wrecking ball and advancing working families’ interests, working people will not support them.”
Irish village dancing jigs over Monday’s visit of its most famous son, President Barack Obama
MONEYGALL, Ireland — Ever since the American president announced on St. Patrick’s Day he would visit his ancestral Irish home, the village of Moneygall has been suffering an incurable case of Obamamania.
This roadside hamlet of two pubs, three shops and barely 350 residents has repainted every house, festooned every lamppost and seemingly rebranded every product in preparation for Monday’s visit by President Barack Obama. Locals have stood in line for hours to receive one of 3,000 tickets that will let them meet Moneygall’s most famous son.
Rising-star NJ governor owes much to complicated relationship with state Senate leader
TRENTON, N.J. — One is a tough-talking, union-bashing former federal prosecutor. The other is a tough-talking union leader and former ironworker.
Much like Felix and Oscar of “Odd Couple” fame, Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic state Senate President Stephen Sweeney are learning to live together and breaking some china in the process.
In many ways, Christie’s national reputation for fighting runaway spending and taking on unions, which has conservatives begging him for run for president in 2012, is tied to his relationship to Sweeney — an unknown outside New Jersey, a union guy who can control which legislation gets a vote and stop the supposedly unstoppable Christie.
