Labor Unions Demand Refund from Parker Griffith
February 3rd, 2010Alabama’s labor union community will have a press conference on the steps of the Madison County Courthouse on Monday Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. to officially request a refund of their political contributions for the 2008 election cycle from Congressman Parker Griffith.
“In our opinion the change from the Democratic party to the Republican party has little or no effect on our request,” Al Henley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama AFL-CIO, said in a press release. “We just simply believe he misled us in the campaign to get elected, and used our money to create a positive name recognition situation then immediately aligned himself with America’s biggest corporations and industries including the Insurance, Pharma and Medical industries, then proceeded to vote against our best interests.”
The press in North Alabama recently reported that the Congressman’s office said no requests had been made for refunds, but is not the case, according to the discussion on key e-mail lists around the state.
“We find it necessary to clear up the confusion on the issue of refunds of political contributions,” Henley said. He said the press and the general public are welcome.
Meanwhile, the Alabama Democratic Party blasted newly-minted Republican Representative Parker Griffith for his lack of leadership in defending critical jobs in Alabama’s fifth Congressional district.
More than a month after his unexpected departure from the Blue Dog Caucus, Representative Griffith remains the only sitting Congressman without a standing committee assignment, according to a press release.
In the wake of today’s “shocking news” about the cancellation of the Constellation and Ares space programs, Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham suggested Griffith’s “irresponsible actions” affected funding and the critical needs of the people of the fifth district.
“Today it is not the Republican or Democratic party hurting, it is the people of Alabama’s fifth district,” Turnham added. “It would easy today to say that Parker Griffith is the 435th least effective member of Congress, and Democrats look forward in the next few weeks to some major announcements regarding outstanding candidates that will work to right this wrong.”
Before the switch, Congressman Griffith held seats on three committees including seats on the powerful Science and Technology and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, both of which are key in determining the distribution of defense and aerospace contracts. According to the Huntsville Times, the fifth Congressional district is seventh in the nation in federal contract dollars.
Soon after Griffith announced the switch, his office suggested he would have new committee assignments by mid-January at the latest.
“Now, weeks later, with hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars potentially at stake for Huntsville, Griffith remains without any assignments,” Turnham said. “When Blue Dog Democrat Bud Cramer was in office he would fight Democrats and Republicans alike to defend the Tennessee Valley’s interests. Apparently Congressman Griffith’s actions have compromised his ability to do the same.”
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February 4th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Interesting idea to request campaign contributions be returned because the candidate, once elected, came down on the wrong side of the issues from the view of the contributors, in this case the labor unions.
Does federal law compel Griffith to do so? Or can he just keep the money? I don’t remember a “money back guarantee” being written into law. Setting that precedent would be really interesting — politicians would have to set aside “reserves” in their campaign funds to pay back disgruntled supporters.
Only in America.
February 4th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Pay attention, Yana. Griffith said he would return the campaign contributions of anyone who asked. He has returned a few, but refused others…
February 4th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
It could be perceived that these unions are saying we tried to buy you and failed, give us our money back and that self incrimination.
BTW, I wouldn’t vote for this guy myself. If you are going to change parties you should do so before running under the banner of the party you are deserting. I count loyalty to friends and associates as a major part of what one should be judged by.