Courtesy of Labor Department, Unions Are Now Less Accountable

Jillian Bandes | April 27, 2009 1:22 PM

The Labor Department noted in a recent disclosure that "it would not be a good use of resources" to bring enforcement actions against union officials who do not comply with conflict of interest reporting rules passed in 2007. Instead, union officials will now be allowed to file older, less detailed conflict reports.

Union advocates say the reporting rules were cumbersome and unwarranted. I say that when you give tens of millions of dollars to a presidential campaign, you probably have some sway in what kinds of rules that President's Labor Department appointees make you follow.