The Power Of Maryland's Public Sector Unions

National Review’s Kevin Williamson wrote an excellent piece debunking the left’s useful myth that public sector unions are a “counterweight” to “the power of big money” in our politics. Williamson points out that public sector unions are no countervailing force, but in reality, a “large and prevailing” big money force all their own. Big money indeed, unions account for five of the top ten political donors in U.S. politics.

That holds true for Democratically controlled Maryland. Public sector unions are a powerful special interest and exert great influence, if not control over Maryland Democrats.

Two years ago Charles “Mac” Middleton (D-Charles County), the powerful chairman of the Maryland Senate Finance Committee, delivered an unintentional dose of truth to a healthcare panel. Middleton said, “You recognize the people that get you there. It's labor and trial lawyers that get Democrats in office. And you don't bite off the hand that feeds you.”

It has almost become cliché to state the fact that Maryland’s public sector unions pay (with taxpayer money) for the Democratic politicians they negotiate with to obtain even more taxpayer largesse.

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