Faulty Bookkeeping at AFL-CIO

The Labor Department informed the AFL-CIO that its financial controls and record-keeping were insufficient and that problems were “beyond technical bookkeeping errors.”

Citing the lack of travel policy for AFL-CIO officers, lack of reporting of travel expenses for spouses, improper handling of credit card charges and missing loan documents, the report demanded improvements in financial procedures for the group.

Unconcerned about the implications of poor bookkeeping, AFL-CIO Boss John Sweeney’s response was “the audit raised no questions whatsoever regarding the federation’s expenditure of funds on behalf of workers.” Translation — our political expenditures on behalf of our favorite candidates can continue unimpeded.

As long as workers are forced to contribute, there is no incentive to accurately keep track of the books as the money will flow one way or another.