Ballotpedia will release the key findings of our public-sector union research each week in Union Station.
------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to _Union Station_, our weekly newsletter that keeps you abreast of the legislation, national trends, and public debate surrounding public-sector union policy.
** BALLOTPEDIA RELEASES RESULTS FROM RESEARCH ON PUBLIC-SECTOR UNION POLITICAL SPENDING
------------------------------------------------------------
Our research project analyzing PUBLIC-SECTOR UNION MEMBERSHIP, FINANCES, AND POLITICAL SPENDING is now complete. In last week's edition, we shared our key findings on union finances. This week, let's turn our attention to political spending.
METHODOLOGY
Campaign finance reporting requirements at both the federal and state levels enable us to report comprehensively on political spending by public-sector unions. Using resources compiled by the National Institute on Money in Politics ([link removed]) , we collected data on all contributions made by public-sector unions to political candidates in 2018.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Public-sector unions contributed $159.8 million to candidates for federal, state, or local office in 2018. Note that this figure does not account for unions' satellite spending ([link removed]) activities. The five states in which political candidates received the most money in contributions from public-sector unions are:
* California, where unions contributed $74.1 million, 46.4 percent of the nationwide total.
* Illinois, where unions contributed $14.2 million, 8.9 percent of the nationwide total.
* Oregon, where unions contributed $10.6 million, 6.6 percent of the nationwide total.
* Minnesota, where unions contributed $10.4 million, 6.5 percent of the nationwide total.
* New York, where unions contributed $9.8, 6.1 percent of the nationwide total.
Combined contributions in these five states totaled $119.0 million, about 75 percent of the nationwide total. Meanwhile, contributions in the remaining 45 states totaled $40.7 million—about 25 percent of the nationwide total.
For a complete breakdown of public-sector union political spending data, including links to state-specific data sets, see this article ([link removed]) .
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
------------------------------------------------------------
** THE BIG PICTURE
------------------------------------------------------------
** _NUMBER OF RELEVANT BILLS BY STATE_
------------------------------------------------------------
We are currently tracking 102 pieces of legislation dealing with public-sector employee union policy. On the map below, a darker shade of green indicates a greater number of relevant bills. Click here ([link removed]) for a complete list of all the bills we're tracking.
------------------------------------------------------------
** RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a complete list of legislative actions taken since our last issue. Bills are listed in alphabetical order, first by state then by bill number.
* CALIFORNIA AB314 ([link removed]) : This bill would require employers to grant employees paid time for certain union activities.
* Presented to the governor September 24.
* NEW HAMPSHIRE HB363 ([link removed]) : This bill would establish the state legislature as a public employer under the state's public-employer labor relations laws.
* Legislative Administration Committee work session held September 26.
------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for reading! Let us know what you think! Reply to this email with any feedback or recommendations.
BALLOTPEDIA DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT OF OUR READERS.
The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns.
Click here to support our work ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
============================================================
** Follow on Twitter (#)
** Friend on Facebook (#)
** Forward to Friend ([link removed])
_Copyright © 2019, All rights reserved._
OUR MAILING ADDRESS IS:
Ballotpedia
8383 Greenway Blvd
Suite 600
Middleton, WI 53562
** unsubscribe from all emails ( [link removed] )
** update subscription preferences ( [link removed] )
** ( [link removed] )
