The Patriot Post® · Massachusetts Playing Favorites With Big Labor

Jeff Jacoby: “What does Massachusetts have against the First Amendment? A lawsuit filed in Superior Court by two family-owned companies – 1A Auto Inc., an auto-parts vendor in Pepperell, and 126 Self Storage Inc., a storage-unit rental firm in Ashland – challenges state campaign-finance rules so crazily lopsided they should be equipped with grab bars. Massachusetts law has long banned businesses from contributing to political candidates or parties, but under rules dating back to the 1980s, labor unions are free to spend up to $15,000 per year in direct political contributions with no disclosure required. Labor unions can also set up PACs – political action committees – to funnel money to candidates and parties they support. Businesses in Massachusetts aren’t allowed to do that either. The sheer unfairness of such regulations speaks for itself. Whatever your view of unions or businesses – or of any interest group – there should be only one standard for determining whether they can engage in political expression.”