1199’s Senate switch, in context
Laura Nahmias
ALBANYThe decision by health care union 1199 SEIUs decision not to donate to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee this year reverses a significant political precedent, but won't by itself change the campaign-finance dynamics of the fight for control of the State Senate.
NYPIRGs Bill Mahoney analyzed all of the unions donations to Senate Democratic and Republicans campaign committees as well as to individual Senate candidates since 1999. His analysis shows the union gave $2,897,200 to the Senate G.O.P.s campaign committee and candidates and $1,606,775 to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and individual Democratic Senate candidates. With all the candidates included, the union spent roughly four times as much on Republicans as it did on Democrats over the past 15 years.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/06/8546666/1199s-senate-switch-context?top-featured-2