Union PAC Money and Michigan's Members of Congress

Two weeks ago, Americans for Limited Government called out nine Republican members of Congress for co-signing their names to what ALG characterizes as a plot to provide a $165 billion taxpayer bailout of union pension plans. As noted in MichCapCon.com on May 29, ALG sent letters to the nine Republicans — including U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter, R-Livonia — asking that they remove their names from the proposal. On June 1, the Wall Street Journal editorial page weighed in on the matter, reinforcing the concerns of ALG and many other free-market organizations, saying the proposal would have the taxpayers picking up "the astonishing tab for poorly managed union pension plans" and concluding that it was the "consolation prize" for Big Labor's ongoing failure to push card check through Congress.

The ALG news release also decried the "audacity" of "labor bosses" who were trying to cash in on the "hundreds of millions" spent on the president, Democrats and the nine Republican co-sponsors. ALG also listed hyperlinks to the campaign statements for the nine Republicans.

The following is a summary of the organized labor political action committee donations made to every member of the Michigan congressional delegation during the 2008 election campaign — the last full election cycle available. The data is reproduced from www.OpenSecrets.org, a website produced by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Please note that U.S. Reps. Joe Knollenberg and Tim Walberg were each defeated during the November 2008 election and are no longer members of Congress.

Contact information for all of Michigan's Congressional delegation is available at www.MichCapCon.com/9313.

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U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland

$2,237,726 total fundraising for 2008.election

$35,500 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr., D-Detroit

$1,096,282 total fundraising for 2008 election

$169,216 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Dearborn

$2,736,892 total fundraising for 2008 election

$163,950 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland

$742,940 total fundraising for 2008 election

$15,500 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint

$606,568 total fundraising for 2008 election

$162,640 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Detroit

$1,027,101 total fundraising for 2008 election

$131,500 from organized labor union sources

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Former U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills*

$3,774,155 total fundraising for 2008 election

$20,000 from organized labor union sources

*defeated by U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Twp.

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U.S. Rep. Sander Levin, D-Southfield

$725,438 total fundraising for 2008 election

$150,800 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia

$1,133,906 total fundraising for 2008 election

$131,250 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Twp.

$835,527 total fundraising for 2008 election

$91,500 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton

$1,384,974 total fundraising for 2008 election

$12,500 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee

$1,326,898 total fundraising for 2008 election

$175,750 from organized labor union sources

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U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph

$1,413,946 total fundraising for 2008 election

$52,405 from organized labor union sources

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Former U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton*

$2,112,214 total fundraising for 2008 election

$0 [zero] from organized labor union sources

*defeated by U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek

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See Also:

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Why a Democrat Voted Against a State Employee Pay Hike

GOP Senators, SEIU Taxpayer Giveaways, Campaign Cash and More, OH MY!

Recent Developments in Union Corruption Cases

Analysis: Government Employee Political Clout Obstructs Budget Reform

State Government Employee Unions Prosper in Midst of Recession

A Pair of Republicans Help House Dems Dump Right-to-Work

Analysis - 'Up North' Grass Roots v. MI GOP Establishment: Echoes of 1992 in Stupak Seat Race

Right-to-Work Bill Rejected:14 House Republicans vote "nay"

Michigan's GOP Congressional Team Scored Less 'Pro Growth' Than Party Peers in D.C. for 2008

Hoekstra Is Only Above-Average GOP U.S. Rep. on 'Pro-Growth' Congressional Scorecard

The REPORK Card: D.C. free-market group grades Congress on earmarks

Wayne State's 'Wholly Owned Subsidiary' of Big Labor

Investors Denounced by President, State House Democrats and Ten House Republicans