$10,000 Here, $10,000 There

The most recent report of the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) shows that Governor Kaine's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward PAC, received $10,000 from Virginia's AFL-CIO on October 27, 2006. Tim Kaine received more than $1.55 million from organized labor in his campaign for governor. Governor Kaine created a cabinet level position for the former president of the AFL-CIO Daniel LeBlanc to advise him on workforce issues.

How much influence do pro-union sympathizers have in Richmond? As the governor recently said "Because of who he is and his unique experiences and skills, this might be the place where he can make the biggest mark of anywhere in state government, and I think we both have a good feeling about that opportunity."

Organized labor is talking to a lot of folks - not just the governor. In 2006 - a non-election year for Virginia public officials - big labor has contributed more than $325,000 to the coffers of anti-business officials and organizations.

Keep checking in with Free Enterprise Watch to learn about the latest developments with labor's historic influence in Virginia.