Those darn government unions...

The involvement of what I call "government unions," such as the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) in the political process, including donating money to candidates and supplying volunteers to campaigns is an issue I'll be paying close attention to beginning, well, now. What this involvement means is that SEIU, as well as AFSCME, are lobbying within government for more government, which means of course, higher taxes, and in my opinion, worse government.

California has a home health care program, In Home Supportive Services, that receives over $5 billion in state funds; it's one of the Golden State's fastest growing programs, which is saying a lot--California is deep into a runaway spending binge--thanks to the Democratic-controlled State Assembly and Republican-in-name-only Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's governor.

There are allegations that because there is so much cash flowing into In Home Supportive Services that rampant fraud. Some people aren't sick, others are ill, but are being cared for relatives who have full-time jobs elsewhere. Some receiving "care" are dead.

The Los Angeles Times has more:

Some critics of the program say politics has blocked efforts to combat fraud. The program has become a steady source of revenue for the Service Employees International Union, among the most powerful interest groups in the Capitol, as well as a second union, the United Domestic Workers of America.

Under the program, people receiving care are entitled to hire whom they wish at government expense. Most hire their relatives, because family members are often the most appropriate to provide the needed round-the-clock feeding, changing, bathing and other care. Wages range from $8 to $14.68 an hour, depending on the county. Those workers are required to pay monthly union dues that total millions of dollars. The SEIU, for example, collects nearly $5 million a month from its 223,000 In Home system members.

The unions donate heavily to the campaigns of Democrats who control the Legislature and organize get-out-the-vote efforts on their behalf.

"There is a huge amount of money flowing to unions from this vast pool of workers they have been able to organize," said Sen. Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto). "Anything they see as a threat to that income stream they are going to challenge and use the political muscle they have to do it."

The best way to end these atrocities is to expose them. Just as bloggers, conservative politicians and the media have done with ACORN. Indicidentally, SEIU and ACORN work together a lot.

Remember what Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."

Lets disinfect these government unions. Starting now.

Related post:

Report from the bloggers' teleconference about Employee FORCED Choice binding arbitration

Technorati tags: labor politics unions news ACORN Democrats corruption SEIU AFSCMECalifornia