Feds' political contributions increasingly go to Democrats

While voters in New Hampshire went to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in the state's influential presidential primaries, federal employee groups already have started voting for their favorite House and Senate candidates with campaign donations.

In keeping with national trends for the 2008 election cycle, Democrats are outpacing Republicans in contributions from federal employee groups' political action committees. Those PACs also are giving greater proportions to Democrats than they did in either of the two previous election cycles.

The National Treasury Employees Union committee has given $100,850 in campaign contributions so far, giving 96 percent of those donations to Democrats. In 2006 and 2004, 85 percent of the union's offerings went to Democrats, and 13 percent and 15 percent to Republicans, respectively.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association PAC has directed 85 percent of its $99,500 in candidate contributions to Democrats, up 21 percent from 2006, when it gave 64 percent to Democrats and 34 percent to Republicans. In 2004, 73 percent of NARFE's contributions went to Democrats and 27 percent to Republicans.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has made $823,900 in contributions this cycle, though with 20,000 members, it is significantly smaller than NTEU, which represents 150,000 bargaining unit employees, and NARFE, which has almost 350,000 members. Seventy-seven percent of NATCA's contributions so far have gone to Democrats and 23 percent to Republicans. NATCA directed 75 percent of its contributions to Democrats in 2006 and 65 percent in 2004.

NATCA's political action committee also has $1,040,586 on hand, according to data released by the Federal Election Commission on Jan. 2. NTEU's PAC has $68,357, and NARFE's has $386,910.

Donations aren't the only way federal employee groups plan to participate in the upcoming congressional elections. NARFE distributes information to its members and places magazine ads to educate readers about votes and positions the organization sees as important.

"We recognize the importance of our members being aware of and informed about the upcoming elections," said Jill Crissman, NARFE's legislative representative. NARFE does not endorse or directly work to defeat any candidate, but the organization does provide its members with detailed information about the year's key congressional votes, she said.

"This analysis selects 'Key NARFE Votes' and informs our members on the issue, why NARFE's position is what it is, and then provides the cumulative voting records by state delegation of every member of the House and Senate," Crissman said.