As reported by Elana Schor at TPMDC, the labor federation Change to Win (of which SEIU is a part of) is "taking a major step today in the effort to restrict bailed-out bank lobbying."
Of note is a letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner from SEIU Secretary-Treasurer and CtW Chair Anna Burger, which calls for Principal Financial Group's $2 billion TARP application to be denied due to their lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act.
Here's what the letter says:
"Principal lobbies on numerous issues that have nothing to do with its own business operations, including the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow workers the freedom to choose a union without employer interference. This opposition to Employee Free Choice is more than shameful, it is a gratuitous slap at millions of working families who have lost their economic security because of the excesses of firms like Principal and who now must shoulder the cost of the bailout.As TPMDC reports, there is "still no rule that constrains TARP beneficiaries from using taxpayer money" to lobby Congress.Principal is also the only TARP applicant or recipient that has disclosed lobbying on the Employee Free Choice Act."
We feel that this is a no-brainer: if you're taking taxpayer money, you shouldn't be able to turn around with that money and lobby against legislation that would help taxpayers and hardworking Americans to make ends meet.
We recently pointed to Bank of America's own active lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act in the wake of receiving $45 billion in TARP funds. You can read the blog post here, and watch our video:
