[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 20, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H15211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         AFL-CIO SPENDING UNION MONEY TO ATTACK BALANCED BUDGET

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, opponents of the Republican effort to 
balance the budget have made a number of attempts to frighten the 
American people. It began with medi-scare, continued with edu-scare, 
and now it culminates with union-scare. The Washington based leadership 
of the AFL-CIO intends to spend $22 million on a campaign that attacks 
Republican efforts to balance the budget. Their campaign, however, is 
not based on the facts of the Republican plan to balance the budget, 
but rather on a series of lies, half-truths, and distortions.
  The interesting part of this campaign is that the $22 million is 
being financed by dues, fees, fines, and other special assessments on 
the hardworking men and women who are members of the AFL-CIO and their 
affiliate unions. Moreover, it is also important to note that this 
money is not being spent to further the interests of the union members, 
but rather is being spent to advance the political interests and agenda 
of the AFL-CIO's newly elected leadership. I wonder if the men and 
women who are paying for this campaign would support the use of their 
$22 million, if they were aware that it was being used to advance 
purely political objectives that stand in the way of a balanced Federal 
budget and brighter future for all Americans.

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