In a reversal, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will allow a law to take effect today under which labor unions can sharply increase their donations to political candidates. It would be the most significant loosening of contribution limits since the city's campaign finance program was set up in 1988. þþAides to Mr. Bloomberg confirmed yesterday that he would not veto the law despite saying last month that he opposed it while at the same time being sympathetic to the interests of unions. He had harshly criticized the City Council, saying it was ÿpassing a law where they are the direct beneficiaries,ÿ and adding that, ÿthe conflict is insurmountable.ÿ þþThe mayor will allow the legislation to become law because he does not see the point of vetoing a bill he agrees with conceptually, especially since it would be overridden by the Council, said Ed Skyler, the mayor's director of communications. ÿHis objection has always been to the City Council changing the rules in such a self-serving manner.ÿþþThe law will change the practice under which large unions with many locals were limited to giving no more than $2,750 to Council candidates and no more than $4,950 to candidates for citywide races.þþUnder the new law, money from different locals of the same union will now be counted as distinct sources of contributions under specific conditions. That would allow local unions affiliated with S.E.I.U., such as 1199/S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East, for instance, to give tens of thousands of dollars combined to single candidates.þþThe Campaign Finance Board, the independent agency that enforces the city's campaign finance rules, and government watchdog groups had vigorously opposed the legislation, contending that it would effectively create a loophole for unions to vastly increase their influence over the city's elected officials. ÿThe law's a stinker,ÿ said Gene Russianoff, a senior lawyer for the New York Public Interest Research Group. ÿIt will allow the same decision-maker to make multiple contributions. Whether the mayor's name is on it or not, he's not doing the right thing.ÿ þþBut the campaign finance legislation has quickly gained support among council members as unions and their lobbyists have increasingly exerted their force in city politics. All seven council members vying to become the next speaker signed on to sponsor the bill. þþSteve Sigmund, a spokesman for the current speaker, Gifford Miller, said, ÿWe're pleased that the mayor won't veto this bill to allow working people to participate in the electoral process.ÿþþThe legislation placed Mr. Bloomberg in a difficult position. He has portrayed himself as generally opposed to the idea of outside interests gaining influence in government through political donations, but was re-elected last month with the support of dozens of unions.þþIn recent weeks, these unions have sought to increase pressure on the mayor to support the legislation, and at least two union officials have said that they were led to believe by the mayor's campaign staff that he would not veto it.þþCarolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for the New York Central Labor Council, said yesterday that the campaign finance legislation had been a priority. ÿThere was a fundamental misunderstanding of how New York City labor unions are set up,ÿ she said. ÿWe are thankful that the mayor does understand. I think his decision not to veto this legislation says a lot.ÿ þþFrederick A. O. Schwarz Jr., chairman of the Campaign Finance Board, had argued that there was no need to rush through the campaign finance legislation because there would not be another citywide election for four years. But in the end, his pleas failed to sway either council members or Mr. Bloomberg.þþÿThe board is very disappointed and does not believe that the administration has fully appreciated the ramifications,ÿ Mr. Schwarz said.þþ
Source: NY Times
