November 10, 2011

FoxNews.com

Nov. 8, 2011: Opponents of the Ohio union law cheer at a rally co-sponsored by the Cleveland Teachers Union and We Are Ohio in Cleveland.
Democrats and unions are hailing Tuesday’s vote to repeal an Ohio law curbing collective-bargaining protections as the sign of an invigorated movement that could boost Democrats next fall.
That is, if they’ve got enough fight left in them.
The campaign to overturn the Republican-approved union law cost unions and their supporters millions of dollars. It followed another costly campaign in Wisconsin to recall state Republicans behind that state’s anti-union law. And it precedes a new fight in Wisconsin to recall GOP Gov. Scott Walker.
With millions of dollars going from union coffers to preserve union benefits and protections, and punish those who oppose them, it’s unclear whether the money and energy will be fully focused on President Obama’s election campaign in 2012 — as well as countless congressional races.
“They’re tapped out,” Republican strategist Ron Bonjean argued. “They’re spending most of the dues on defending themselves.”
The unions have deep pockets and are not literally tapped out.
But the Ohio election was by any measure costly. Financial reports filed in late October showed the pro-union group We Are Ohio spent more than $17 million — and likely more in the final days.
By contrast, the group Building a Better Ohio which supported the law spent $6 million to defend it.
The bulk of We Are Ohio’s budget came from state and national unions. The Ohio Education Association committed $4.75 million; the National Education Association contributed $2 million; the National Labor Table contributed $3 million; and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees contributed $1.5 million.

Read More: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/10/costly-collective-bargaining-campaigns-could-take-toll-on-unions-ahead-2012/