Press Releases

Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s senior Republican member, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s decision to rescind the Form T-1 reporting requirement for union trusts controlled by union officials. The department’s decision will roll back a 2008 rule that requires financial disclosure by union trusts, which are entities owned by labor unions.

“Once again the Obama administration has decided to limit workers’ ability to know how their union dues are used by labor officials. This is the latest in an ongoing effort by the administration to tilt the balance of power in favor of Big Labor and against rank-and-file workers. Regrettably, this decision will roll back commonsense financial reporting and disclosure requirements that would have given workers a better understanding of how union dues are spent. Though the administration talks tough about transparency, its actions fall short of its rhetoric.

“Today the culture of union favoritism strikes another blow against transparency and accountability to workers. The American people want officials from every corner of the federal government focused on creating jobs, reining in the size and cost of government, and ending the era of special interest giveaways. This decision proves the administration still doesn’t get it. When the new Republican-led Congress begins work next year to restore accountability in Washington, we will examine these instances of executive pandering that diminish workers’ rights.”

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