Here’s an “only in Washington” story for you.
A handful of federal investigators have uncovered evidence of multiple crimes. In the last six years alone, these gangbusters have won 775 criminal convictions and the repayment of $70 million taken illegally from American workers. So how does Congress react? By moving to cut their budget next year.
That’s right. Lawmakers have finally found a bureaucracy they don’t want to expand. It’s the Office of Labor-Management Standards, the arm (or, to be more precise, finger) of our federal government that investigates fraud by labor union leaders.
This year, OLMS had a budget of just under $48 million. For next year, the House of Representatives has appropriated $45.7 million, a $2 million cut and $11 million less than President Bush asked for.
The cut is strange, especially since OLMS is racking up convictions left and right. Consider some of its recent activity:
? In April, Jorge Aponte-Figueroa was convicted of 12 counts of embezzlement. A past president of the International Longshoreman’s Association Local 1740 in Puerto Rico, he took part in a conspiracy to steal $1.9 million in union funds.
? In January, John T. Daley, former chief financial officer of the New York State Nurses Association, admitted to stealing more than $1.1 million in union funds. He’ll spend at least three and a half years in prison.
? Last October, Cheryl Martin was sentenced to four years probation for her role in embezzling almost $4.6 million from the Washington Teachers’ Union. She’ll also pay restitution of $650,000. Continued... |