A state workers' group may get involved in federal races.
In the past seven years, the State Employees Association of North Carolina's political action committee has stuck to local and state races in its endorsements and independent expenditures.
But after SEANC voted in May to affiliate with the national Service Employees International Union — which has one of the country's top PACs in federal races — it is reconsidering.
SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope told Dome that decisions in Washington on issues such as Medicare funding often affect North Carolina and the group's state political goals. At the same time, it does not want to spread itself too thin.
"We want to get the most bang for the buck," he said.
The group is now coordinating its efforts more with SEIU, which sent flyers in a 2005 Raleigh City Council race and has given to U.S. Reps. Brad Miller and David Price, former U.S. Senate candidate Erskine Bowles and state Sen. Janet Cowell.
Cope said SEIU got permission from his group before giving $5,000 in late March to U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan, who was not endorsed by SEANC in the primary and may not be in the general election.
If SEANC decides to get involved in Congressional races, it will have to register as a federal PAC.
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Re: SEANC mulling federal endorsements
reluctant, shied, whether, endorsing, it's, for, :
You must be a union member since you said the membership needs to make it's feelings known. I do not think a rubber stamp for democratic candidates will get anything for you. It hasn't helped the teachers in this state. In a state budget exploding 45% bigger since 2002, and has more than doubled over the last 10 years, there is NO MORE MONEY!