Cuts for corruption

If it can be argued that the Republican Party is the party of big business, then the Democratic Party is the party of big labor. \nAccording to the Center for Responsive Politics, the labor industry has donated more than $285 million, just more than 90 percent of its funds, to Democratic members of Congress since 2000.\nIt would be reasonable to say, then, that the Democratic Party has good reason to promote the interests of labor. However, when looking to trim the federal budget for the 2008 fiscal year, Democrats in Congress decided it would be a good idea to cut funding to the Office of Labor Management Standards, the union watchdog organization in the Department of Labor.\n The office oversees proper accounting of union expenditures, ensures fair elections and reports conflicts of interest in union activity.\nIn July, the House of Representatives decided to cut the office budget to $45.7 million, $11 million short of the Bush administration’s budget request. \nThe White House responded with understandable concern. “Last night’s House action cutting the budget of the Office of Labor Management Standards will impede effective enforcement of the law that protects union democracy and financial integrity for rank and file members,” said U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao in a press release.\nDuring that same month, an office press release reported 73 indictments and 100 convictions in the 2007 fiscal year to date, indiscretions primarily involving union officers and employees who had embezzled funds. The release also noted that through office actions against unions since 2001, there has been more than $101 million in court-ordered restitution.\nOn Oct. 18, Senate Republicans tried to increase the amount of funds available for the office only to have the measure defeated by a vote of 46-47. Not surprisingly, every Democrat present voted the amendment down.\nI guess that’s a good place to trim the budget when you’re Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Chuck Schumer, both New York Democrats, who recently earmarked a Senate bill to spend $1 million dollars of federal taxpayer money for a Woodstock museum to commemorate the famous 1969 music festival. Thank goodness Republicans blocked this vote, choosing to make an example of such ridiculous pork-barrel spending.\nThe Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank, argued that the Bush administration has used the office to intimidate unions while “turning a blind eye to corporate corruption.”\nYet on Oct. 19 the Securities and Exchange Commission, primarily a corporate watchdog, announced more than $356 million to be sent to investors who were victims of financial fraud at Fannie Mae. As for supposed Republican apathy toward “corporate corruption,” I don’t think I’ll see federal funding for the SEC on the chopping block for the next fiscal year.\nAny time your party decides to cut funding to a program that regulates your donors of choice, you’re going to catch some flak. That’s corrupt and inexcusable partisan politics in the Democratic Party.