The Fight in Kansas-2, the Reality of Big Labor Contributions
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 APRIL 2008
CONTACT: John Kartch
202-785-0266
The Fight in Kansas-2, the Reality of Big Labor Contributions
Challenger shows he is free of major union campaign contributions
Washington, DC- Today, the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) released the 2007-2008 campaign contribution numbers for incumbent Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-KS) and challenger, former Kanasas-2 Congressman Jim Ryun (R-KS), who held the seat from 1996 to 2006. According to AWF, $94,000 of Ms. Boyda’s campaign contributions came from labor unions, which equals 39 percent of her total Political Action Committee or PAC contributions.
Relating dollars to votes, AWF is scheduled to release their annual Congressional scorecard for the 1st Session of the 110th Congress in the coming weeks. Their policy director Brian Johnson says, “Boyda just nine percent on our scorecard, placing her well within the bottom third of the entire Congress. She voted in favor of forced public sector collective bargaining, increased minimum wage, which hits the low skilled and minority workers the hardest, and taking away the right of private ballot union elections.”
AWF also highlights the much lower level of union contributions to former Congressman Ryun—0.1% of his aggregate PAC contributions, or $2,550. When in office Ryun voted to protect workers’ pensions from union control, to prohibit public sector collective bargaining, and to decrease Medicare spending and labor control over healthcare plans.
Johnson maintains his group is not implying labor unions are buying votes, but that the numbers do indicate something about the candidates
Johnson notes that Ryun is not merely a challenger, but a former incumbent-challenger with a voting record trying to take back his seat, which contrasts with Rep. Boyda. “Boyda is a freshman legislator whose recent labor score card indicates that she has spent her first term in Congress catering to big labor,” Johnson adds.
To schedule an interview with Brian Johnson, call 202-785-0266 or email jkartch@atr.org
