Report: Public sector unions spending big bucks in New York

(The Center Square) — New York Democrats are raking in cash from government unions, with a new report showing that the state's elected leaders were among the nation's largest recipients of labor union contributions.

The Commonwealth Foundation report shows the four largest government unions – the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and Service Employees International Union — spent more than $6 million on New York politics during the 2021-2022 fundraising cycle.

That's the seventh largest amount among all 50 states, according to the report, which found a majority of the union money contributed to political action committees went to support Democratic party candidates and organizations for use in federal and state campaigns.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul was the top recipient of union-related PAC spending in the 2021-2022 fundraising cycle, or more than $249,000, according to the report.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York congressman, received the largest amount of public union contributions among the state's elected federal officials during that time frame, the report noted.

He banked $50,000 in union contributions, the third largest amount among the 10 Democratic lawmakers whose contributions the foundation reviewed, according to the report.

In total, PACs tied to the four largest government unions contributed to 282 candidates for the House of Representatives. Of those, 273 were Democrats, seven were Republicans, one was a third-party candidate, and one was an independent

Overall, Government union spending through political action committees totaled $708 million during the 2021-22 election cycle, according to the report. That includes $145.1 million spent on state and local politics.

State PAC spending was highest in Illinois ($27.9 million), followed by California ($24.9 million), Minnesota ($13.2 million), Pennsylvania ($12.1 million) and Washington ($7.5 million). Together, the five states accounted for nearly 60% of all state PAC expenditures.

The report's authors said the spending reflects the powerful influence of government unions over public policy decisions, much of it focused on forwarding progressive policies.

"Armed with millions of members and numerous special legal privileges, the four largest government unions have amassed significant political power," the report's authors wrote. "With this power, government unions have dedicated significant financial resources toward maintaining and expanding the legal structures from which they derive their power."