Unions.
According to the United Transportation Union, its influence with the White House led to administration appointments for its general counsel and another former official. With all the money UTU’s PAC has given Democrats, the union says it expects more appointments in the future.
A major transportation union this week publicly boasted of the political influence it wields with the White House, but subsequently apologized to a congressional panel for the remark on Wednesday night.
The brash claim attracted bipartisan criticism as senators called on the union to retract the statement.
After President Obama nominated United Transportation Union (UTU) General Counsel Daniel Elliot to become a member of the three-person Surface Transportation Board, UTU International President Mike Futhey said in a statement: “The selection by President Obama of Dan Elliot and [former UTU official] Joe Szabo to head major transportation regulatory agencies is tribute to the political influence of the UTU, which flows from the UTU [political action committee (PAC)]. We have good reason to expect President Obama to reach into the UTU ranks for other appointments in the near future.”