Amnesty and Big Labor

McClatchy Newspapers report that “President Bush’s hopes of securing a comprehensive immigration overhaul have brightened considerably in the new Democratic-controlled Congress, but resistance from organized labor – one of the Democratic Party’s most loyal constituencies – could complicate those efforts.”

As our readers know, the bosses of the AFL-CIO support amnesty for the 12 million illegal aliens currently in the United States and oppose a temporary guest worker program, a key element of Bush’s immigration plan.

The divisions within organized labor were evident during the contentious debate over immigration in the previous Congress. But they take on heightened significance as Democrats assume control of the 110th Congress and begin shaping the legislative agenda.

Recognizing the obvious, the story says “Organized labor is a bedrock of the Democratic coalition and helped drive Democrats’ takeover of Congress in November’s elections.”

Organized Labor political action committees contributed nearly 90 percent of their donations to Democratic candidates, a total of $42 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. But these are just the reported expenditures. The Center doesn’t count the unreported expenditures.

Union consultant Jon Tasini has admitted that union bosses’ mostly forced dues-funded unreported expenditures on “internal political mobilization” are “seven to 10 times” greater than “what they give candidates and parties.”

Needless to say, it is BIG money.

Translation: Amnesty is high up on the Democrat immigration agenda.