Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site.
Public employee unions were the biggest spenders of all Ohio political action committees (PACs) during the first three and a half months of 2013, based on data released last week by the secretary of state. Sorting PAC reports by expenditures from January 1 through April 17, government unions held the top three spots while public and private labor union committees accounted for 5 of the top 10.
The Ohio Education Association (OEA), Ohio’s largest union, has outspent every other PAC in the state this year by doling out $130,500 in campaign contributions. As usual, OEA giving heavily favored Democrats but also benefited several Senate Republicans.
Of OEA’s PAC and political contributing entity spending since January 1, $70,000 has gone directly to the Ohio Democratic Party. The union has contributed $2,500 to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, and $2,500 more to the Senate Democratic Caucus.
On March 15, OEA contributed $2,500 each to 7 Democrat legislators, including House Minority Leader Armond Budish, Assistant House Minority Leader Matt Szollosi, House Minority Whip Tracy Maxwell Heard, and Assistant House Minority Whip Debbie Phillips.
One month later, OEA contributed $2,500 each to 6 more state lawmakers, including Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) and Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), as well as Senate Democrat leaders Eric Kearney, Joe Schiavoni, and Edna Brown.
Republican senators Randy Gardner, Gayle Manning, and Jim Hughes have each received $2,500 from OEA this year. Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) has received $1,000 from the teachers union.
Close behind OEA on the list of PACs spending the most in early 2013 was the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE), a local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) which has contributed $128,350 to political campaigns.
OAPSE has given $50,000 to the Ohio Democratic Party, $10,000 to progressive state senator and presumptive secretary of state candidate Nina Turner (D-Cleveland), $10,000 to Rep. John Patrick Carney (D-Columbus), and $10,000 to Democrat gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald since January 1.
The AFSCME affiliate has contributed $5,000 to Democrats of Cuyahoga County, $2,500 to the Ohio House Democratic Caucus, $1,000 to Dayton mayoral candidate Nan Whaley (D), and $1,000 to the Franklin County Democratic party. OAPSE has donated $2,500 each to 10 Democrat members of the Ohio House, including Budish, Szollosi, Heard, Phillips, and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern.
AFSCME Council 8 has given $10,000 to Whaley, $10,000 to Sen. Turner, $10,000 to Rep. Carney, $10,000 to the Ohio Democratic Party, and $2,500 to the House Democratic Caucus.
The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), AFSCME Local 11, has also contributed $10,000 to Sen. Turner – for a total of $30,000 in contributions from just three AFSCME affiliates to the frequent MSNBC guest and undeclared 2014 secretary of state candidate.
OCSEA has given $5,000 to the Ohio Democratic Party, $2,500 to the House Democratic Caucus, and $2,000 to Sen. Hughes.
Though Ohio’s government employee unions have dominated 2013 PAC spending to date, the state National Education Association affiliate and branches of AFSCME haven’t been the only notable union contributors during the primary season.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 540 has given $11,500 to the House Democratic Caucus and another $5,000 to Rep. Carney.
Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 33 has given $6,100 to Sen. Patton, $5,000 to Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Widener (R-Springfield), $4,000 to Senate Majority Whip Larry Obhof (R-Medina), $2,500 to Sen. Hughes, and $2,500 to Summit County Executive Russ Pry (D).