Todd Tiahrt: “it is interesting that they want to change all the campaign laws, when the Democrat Party has had trouble keeping the…”

“it is interesting that they want to change all the campaign laws, when the Democrat Party has had trouble keeping the laws we have on the books today. But here is an issue that you will not hear many of the liberal colleagues discuss when speaking so passionately about campaign finance reform. It is the use of union dues for political purposes. During the last election, the AFL-CIO spent a minimum of $35 million in an unprecedented effort to buy Congress. This money came from the paychecks of American workers through special assessments of local unions, and yet national polling tells us that 40 percent of the union workers did not agree with the way their money was being spent. Thomas Jefferson said, ``To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical.'' Later on, in 1988, the Supreme Court said in its Beck decision that the use of compulsory dues and fees for purposes ``beyond those necessary to finance collective bargaining activities violated the judicially created duty of fair representation.'' I welcome the AFL-CIO's involvement in the political process. They should however respect the rights of their members. Let us free up the paychecks of American workers. Union workers should be allowed to voluntarily participate in politics. Not against their will but voluntarily. And no campaign reform is acceptable without freeing the paychecks of American workers.”