Campaign Finance Reform and EFCA

We need to remember that it all runs together. The new Campaign Finance Reform Bill currently teetering on the brink of law in our unpredictably balanced Senate includes a piece that once again gives unions new rights. It allows organizations with a particular number of dues paying members to be allowed to put that cash into campaigns of the organization's choosing. The difference between the usual dues collecting organizations like the NRA or the AARP and unions is that in Closed Shop states union members are required to belong to the union within a fixed period of time or lose their job. This means that Campaign Finance "Reform" would allow the money that these folks are required to pay to keep their job to be used at the union's discretion to further candidates sympathetic to their "needs". Impressive, the crafters of this legislation were crafty enough to get the unions lumped in with organizations people join voluntarily out of passion for their mission. Yes, there are passionate union members and there are tons more that pay dues to keep working in their industry. There isn't a method for union members to vote on where their money goes or insist that it goes back into supporting them in employment related issues, which is why the union is there in the first place, right? If you are wondering where EFCA comes into this, let's go back to the "card check bill". EFCA allows a simple majority of employees signing union cards, possibly under duress because the unions can visit their homes, schools and children's soccer games, to certify the union. No vote, no democratic process, no room for the employer to tell their side. In a Closed Shop state, this is tantamount to impressment. 50% less one of the entire employee population are required to join the union because the other 50% plus 1 signed cards, no option, if you want to keep your job. EFCA is struggling for now, so let's put a little gift to the unions, traditional supporters of the Democratic Party. Let's make sure they can continue to support their favorite candidates legally through the Campaign Finance Reform. Who said power doesn't have it's priveleges? While this is disturbing, I am truly surprised that there is this much creativity in Congress. Could someone up there put this creativity toward balancing the national budget, instead of finding ways to tip the balance on their campaign war chests? All else fails, quit getting creative all together and focus on using Ramsey's envelope system to get the country back on its feet. When the budget is balanced, you can go back to screwing with working class America.