Official Time" for Federal Employee Union Representatives Under Fire

"Official Time" for Federal Employee Union Representatives Under Fire
“There are many who collect generous salaries and benefits entirely paid for by taxpayers while simultaneously working for unions that spend a lot of money on political activities and lobbying. Taxpayers shouldn't subsidize a union's activities. Not only is this a bum deal for the American people, it also wastes well over $100 million a year and more than a $1 billion over the next decade."

Cantor: Taxpayers Shouldn’t Subsidize Union Activities

by  Connie Hair

06/29/2010

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) today announced the winner of this week’s top vote-getter in the online YouCut contest that allows everyone to vote on proposed spending cuts Republicans each week bring to the House floor for a vote.

This week’s winner is a proposal developed by Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) that would prohibit taxpayer funding for union activities, saving taxpayers $120 million a year and $1.2 billion over ten years.

“This week’s spending cut, developed by Phil Gingrey, addresses one of the perpetual roadblocks to American private-sector job creation and economic recovery: federal-employee unions,” Cantor announced.  “There are many who collect generous salaries and benefits entirely paid for by taxpayers while simultaneously working for unions that spend a lot of money on political activities and lobbying. Taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize a union’s activities. Not only is this a bum deal for the American people, it also wastes well over $100 million a year and more than a $1 billion over the next decade. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for this fair and fiscally responsible proposal.”

Cantor appealed to the Blue Dog Democrat coalition -- who claim to be fiscally conservative -- and other Democrats willing to give fiscal conservatism a try to join Republicans in voting for these YouCut spending cuts.

“Our crippling national deficit is not just a federal problem, it is also infecting state and local governments and communities,” Cantor said.  “Indeed, our debt situation is a defining problem affecting every single one of us that must be tackled with a unified, bipartisan effort. That’s why I continue to encourage the Blue Dogs and other so-called fiscally responsible Democrats to join us in supporting the YouCut movement.  It’s not too late.”

Republicans plan to bring this proposal to the House floor for a vote tomorrow using parliamentary maneuvers.  Over 1.1 million Americans have voted in the popular online spending cut program.

Description of this week’s winning YouCut Proposal:

Taxpayer Subsidized Union Activities
Saves potentially $120 million a year and $1.2 billion over ten years

Currently, some federal employees spend up to 100% of their workweek, paid by taxpayers, doing work for their union. Federal employees unions collect millions in revenue each year and spend significant amounts on political activities and lobbying, should they also be subsidized by the taxpayer for their official functions? In 2008 the Federal government spent $120 million paying employees for their time spent working on union activities (over five years this would total a minimum of $600 million.) (Also proposed as part of the RSC Sunset Caucus.)

Connie Hair writes daily as HUMAN EVENTS' Congressional correspondent. She is a former speechwriter for Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and a former media and coalitions advisor to the Senate Republican Conference.