Notorious DC lobbyist attacks MEA-MFT

Guest editorial by MEA-MFT members, 9/4/06

As Alice in Wonderland said, "Curiouser and curiouser."

First we hear about mysterious out-of-state megabucks funding the effort to get CI-97, the rigid state spending cap, on Montana's November ballot.

Then we see nasty newspaper and TV ads attacking Montana unions, like MEA-MFT, that oppose CI-97. (For the record, CI-97 was such a spectacular disaster in Colorado, the only state to try it, that voters there suspended it.)

Then we learn that the attack ads were created by notorious D.C. lobbyist Richard Berman, who is working with - guess who - the out-of-state group pushing CI-97.

As public employees and proud members of MEA-MFT, we did some research on Richard Berman and his front group, the Center for Union Facts.

(His "facts," by the way, are pure fiction. His web site didn't even get our union's name right. With such sloppy research, who could believe anything he says?)

USA Today recently published a lengthy article on Mr. Berman, called "Got a Nasty Fight? Here's Your Man." (7/31/06).

It reports that Mr. Berman has made a lucrative career ($10 million a year) out of bashing, smearing, and attacking groups that range from Mothers Against Drunk Driving to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

In the 1990s, he used Phillip Morris money to fight the move to put no-smoking sections in restaurants.

More recently, he created a multimedia blitz encouraging pregnant women to ignore federal mercury guidelines and eat more fish.

Mr. Berman has fought laws to curb drunk driving. He has attacked health advocates who want sodas and sugary snacks removed from schools.

His clients include the tobacco, alcohol, and food lobbies. And now he is aligned with Americans for Limited Government, the Illinois-based group with a New York City president (Howard Rich) that is bankrolling CI-97 in Montana. And in Nebraska, Nevada, Michigan, Maine, and Oregon.

We keep wondering: If these Illinois and New York folks think CI-97 is such a great idea, why aren't they pushing it in their own states?

In response to public outrage against his hostile anti-public employee ads in Montana, Mr. Berman claims the ads are not aimed at employees but their union "bosses."

MEA-MFT, like other unions, is a representative democracy. Members are the "bosses." Members elect delegates who debate and determine the union's budget, policy, and dues. Members elect the board of directors and officers. Members decide which political candidates the union will support. No dues dollars are used to support candidates - only voluntary member contributions.

"Shoot the messenger"
Richard Berman's strategy, in his own words, is to "shoot the messenger…attack their credibility as spokespersons."

That's what these insulting, public employee-bashing ads are all about - attacking our credibility.

What's next? Ads attacking the Montana Fire Fighters, Nurses Association, Contractors Association, AARP, state Chamber of Commerce, and the many other Montana groups that oppose CI-97?

If so, Mr. Berman will have his hands full, because hundreds of Montana individuals and dozens of organizations have joined the nonpartisan fight against CI-97.

If CI-97 passes, we will see cuts in funding for education, health care, firefighting, and senior services like meals on wheels. We can expect cuts in police budgets for battling meth and early release of prisoners due to prison budget cuts.

By squeezing the state budget, CI-97 will shift the burden to local governments, forcing higher property taxes and fees.

That's what happened in Colorado. That's why MEA-MFT and other unions have teamed up with health care, business, child advocacy groups, and many others to stop CI-97.

Corporate lobbyist Richard Berman and his mysterious out-of-state allies may try to shoot the messenger.

In the case of CI-97 opponents, however, they may find that there are too many messengers to shoot.

Submitted by:
Sharon Applegate, Kalispell
Lana Lynch, Billings
Connie Pederson, Missoula
Mary Christiansen, Bozeman
David Murto, Butte
Jon Runnalls, Helena
Char Bunker, Great Falls