Firefighters' union shifts money to state fights

[phantom power]

The International Association of Fire Fighters announced today it is freezing donations to federal candidates and party committees and will shift its money to fight anti-union efforts in state legislatures around the country.

The decision could hurt Democrats, who received more than 80% of the money donated by the union's political action committee in 2010's midterm elections for Congress, according to data compiled by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. In all, the union said it spent $15 million on federal politics last year.

General President Harold Schaitberger said the union faces legislative fights, ballot measures and recall elections that threaten workers' rights in at least nine states. At the same time, the union's traditional allies in Congress haven't aggressively defended firefighters, he said.

"We are simply shutting down any contributions going to any federal candidates or to any federal PACs or committees until, quite frankly, our friends are willing to stand up and fight on our behalf with the same kind of ferocity that our enemies and those that are literally trying to destroy us are doing on the other side," Schaitberger told USA TODAY.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/04/firefighters-union-shifts-money-to-state-fights/1

[Brickbat]

1. Excellent. I totally support this.

As outlined in the other thread. ;)

[Snoutport]

2. local community races are important.

[blondeatlast]

3. EXCELLENT. This is a very effective strategy for unions; keep it up! nt

[OHdem10]

4. I support this also.

[Sherman A1]

5. Superb!

I believe this is where the most effective use of money is.

[applegrove]

6. And by unleashing Walker & other ayn randians on the states the GOP has managed

to dilute democratic money. If unions have to fight at the state level they have less left to fight nationally.