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Investigation Request Filed Against Unregistered Lobbyist SEIU Treasurer Anna Burger

From Americans for Tax Reform & Alliance for Worker Freedom on Thursday, December 3, 2009 11:13 AM
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America’s largest union, the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) is a common utterance within the White House and will be a major player at the December jobs summit. In 2008 they gave almost $30 million to Obama’s campaign. SEIU President Andy Stern is the most frequent visitor to the White House according to their visitors’ log. Anna Burger, Treasurer of the SEIU and Chairwoman of their Change to Win campaign has even been appointed to Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board and is scheduled to attend the December jobs summit at the White House.

The problem; until 2007, both Stern and Burger were registered lobbyists until they terminated their status, yet their job duties or descriptions have not changed. This plus other evidence appears to indicate that both are continuing to lobby without registering and thus are violating federal law (and Obama’s campaign promises).

Today, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) and the Alliance for Worker Freedom (AWF) formally requested an investigation by the acting United States Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Esq., into the potentially illegal lobbying activities of the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Treasurer and Change to Win Chairwoman Anna Burger.

The groups filled their first lobbying investigation request with the US Attorney’s office and key Congressional offices on November 13th against SEIU President Andy Stern. The Secretary of the U.S. Senate, Nancy Erickson, has notified Andy Stern of the groups’ complaint and a response from SEIU has yet to be seen.

In their most recent effort, ATR & AWF claim the SEIU’s LM-2 mandatory financial disclosure forms filled with the Department of Labor seem to indicate otherwise. A letter delivered today and available on their websites, ATR President Grover Norquist and AWF Executive Director Brian Johnson wrote:

LM-2 forms from 2007 and 2006, both years when Ms. Burger was a registered lobbyist, reveal that she spent well over 20 percent of her time on politics and lobbying. Yet after de-listing, Burger reported spending an even larger amount of her time, 37 percent, on politics and lobbying activity.

“Given her role as the head of the Change to Win Federation, her senior position with SEIU, and her appointment to Obama’s Economic Recovery board, Burger is almost certain to have had enough contact with covered officials during relevant reporting periods to cause her to legally have to re-register,” said Norquist. “Now, she is heading to the White House to participate in a jobs summit. I guess one way Obama can still work with lobbyists is to just have them not follow the same rules as everyone else – seems like politics as usual,” Johnson added.

Burger's contacts, combined with the LM-2 fillings, make it highly likely that she engaged in lobbying as defined by the LDA during the time she was not listed as a lobbyist.

Letter calling for US Attorney to investigate SEIU Treasurer Anna Burger (PDF)

ATR & AWF press release (PDF)

Permalink | Email | Print | Tags: AWF, POLITICS, OBAMA, LABOR, TRANSPARENCY, Federal

Comments

If Andy Stern's blatant lobbying wasn't bad enough, we now have Anna Burger thrown into the mix- the numbers on Burger's LM-2 forms speak for themselves. The Obama administration should be held accountable for the promises they made to the American people, "No lobbyists in my White House."
>> Jamie Thursday, December 3, 2009 12:01 PM Report Comment

So let me get this straight: The White House is having a "discussion" on how to start creating more jobs at a faster pace; and they way in which they think this can be achieved is by having one of the biggest job-killers (the unions) sitting at the front of the table?? The President and his Administration are a joke and it really is sad how much the American people are going to suffer because of his ineffective and somewhat destructive Economic Policies.
>> Harry, MI Thursday, December 3, 2009 1:36 PM Report Comment

Sometimes I get a sense of hopelessness about our government due to the continueing lies and deciet and the resistance to come clean when they get called on it. We do have a FOIA but we shoud not even need it.
>> isaac Thursday, December 3, 2009 2:59 PM Report Comment

I cannot understand why the Obama staff and him keeps lying to the American people. How many times must we say WE DON'T WANT SOCIALIST FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN OUR COUNTRY, NOR YOUR VERY COMPLICATED AND COSTLY MEDICAL PLAN. I spent 26 yoears in the service of this Country and I didn't do that for such a change to my Country.I feel like I have been treated wrong. I must say I never expected seeing our Country torn apart like it has been this past year. No thanks for giving such big money problems for my children to handle during their full life time area. .
>> RAYMOMND Coultas Saturday, December 5, 2009 5:14 PM Report Comment

thay lie cheet&misused our money
>> larry wilder Wednesday, December 9, 2009 9:47 PM Report Comment

retired military 78 yrs old and really scared. this adm is more of a threat to our way of life than anything before. two geneations that belongs to me have no interest in what has happened and what is going to happen. I am trying to teach what missed in school and what they need to get them envolved. the biggest lession was when tobbaco prices and fuel went up wd
>> william dycus Thursday, December 10, 2009 4:44 PM Report Comment

Why is there so many in the white house that owes taxes and different departments owe taxes into the billions.and it just doesn't seem to be a big deal, just like they are not going to have the same health care we have plus it is free for the rest of there life and we pay dearly. I have paid into medicare for 60 years an now i can't useit and it is going to be up to the government who knows nothing of my problems. They have lied and bribed to get what they want. Maufa politics. I don't thnk I can take 3 more years. Somebody needs to stand up to Harry Reid who is a jerk.
>> Deloris Rengstorf Wednesday, December 16, 2009 3:24 AM Report Comment

Astounding number of goobers hurling invectives like chimps hurl feces. Why? The simple fact of the matter is Obama's skin color. The top tax bracket under Obama is 36% -- the same as under Bush and far lower than the 50% that prevailed under Reagan for his first six years! Far far lower than the 91% it was under Ike. Surely that 78 year old geezer complaining about "threat to our way of life" should know. When you present facts rather than baseless accusations, people will listen.
>> Marconi Thursday, December 17, 2009 3:22 PM Report Comment

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