Open Illinois.org

Though President Obama campaigned on a platform of transparency, he has thwarted the Department of Labor’s efforts to bring more transparency to labor unions.  In an effort to provide union members with more information on how their dues are spent, the DOL revised its reporting requirements so that unions would report all compensation for union executives and employees, itemized expenditures and the names of people selling union assets. But the president rescinded the order shortly after being elected to office, violating his pledge for transparency.

Transparency is a non-partisan issue; both Democrats and Republicans can agree that people have a right to know how their government, and organizations receiving government privileges, are operating.  Divulging itemized expenditures would not interfere with union’s abilities to represent the interests of their members. In fact, such transparency may very well enhance their effectiveness by rooting out corruption. President Obama should follow through on his campaign pledge and require transparency on the part of Big Labor.