Northeast Section IVP D. David Haggerty, center, presents L-154 delegates with a Capitol Dome Award for achieving the highest CAF donations by a local. Left to right, delegates Tom McKittrick, Paul Price, IVP Haggerty, Ray Doria, and D-PA Bridget Martin.
Funds support pro-worker candidates, member education
TOP DONORS TO CAF and LEF in 2013 received recognition during the 46th annual Legislative Education Action Program (LEAP) conference in Washington, D.C., April 28-May 1. The awards went to vice presidential sections, individual lodges and individual members.
The Campaign Assistance Fund (CAF) is how our union contributes money to candidates for federal office. It is used primarily to make contributions to election campaigns for the U.S. House and Senate. Because CAF is a political action committee (PAC) fund, donations to it are completely voluntary. CAF money cannot come from a lodge’s treasury or dues; it can only come from donations or fund-raising activities. And only active and retired Boilermakers and their immediate families may give.
The conference recognized the Northeast Section (IVP D. David Haggerty) for the highest CAF contribution by a section in 2013 — $130,731.26. Local 154, Pittsburgh, received the award for highest CAF contribution by a local lodge, raising $98,066.24. Local 92, Los Angeles, won for highest average CAF contribution per member at $77.55. The top individual member CAF fundraiser award went to Gerard “Mozzy” Maciejewski, Local 107 (Milwaukee), who raised $1,732.00.
Retirees contributed a total of $86,604.06 to CAF through the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust in 2013, and $6,475.00 through the Officers & Employees Pension Plan.
International staff and officers contributed $34,909.50.
Pre-conference voluntary donations to CAF and those made during the event totaled $6,631.00.
In all, Boilermakers donated $497,750.04 to CAF in 2013, a 3.5 percent decrease over final figures for 2012.
LEF donors recognized
THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION Fund (LEF) is the Boilermakers’ non-federal “527” account, which is used to influence elections to state and/or local office and to offices in political party organizations. It is not used for direct contributions to federal candidates but may be used for public communications about them. The LEF account is intended exclusively for election-related purposes or only insubstantially for other purposes such as legislative activities.
The award for the highest LEF contributions for a section in 2013 went to the Great Lakes (IVP Larry McManamon), which raised $63,555.03. Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.) won the award of the highest contribution by a local, with $32,816.56.
Local lodges presented LEF checks during the event totaling $17,000.00.
| Top 10 Local Lodge CAF and LEF Contributors in 2013 |
|||||
| Top 10 locals giving to CAF | Top 10 locals donating to LEF | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local 154 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
$98,066.24 | Local 83 Kansas City, Missouri |
$32,816.56 | ||
| Local 92 Bloomington, California |
$46,452.03 | Local 13 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
$15,236.00 | ||
| Local 744 Cleveland, Ohio |
$22,147.18 | Local 549 Pittsburg, California |
$5,971.00 | ||
| Local 374 Hammond, Indiana |
$19,894.90 | District 57 Chattanooga, Tennessee |
$5,000.00 | ||
| Local 549 Pittsburg, California |
$19,787.25 | Local 154 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
$4,873.50 | ||
| Local 5 Floral Park, New York |
$17,036.41 | Local 104 Seattle, Washington |
$4,852.00 | ||
| Local 85 Rossford, Ohio |
$16,929.49 | Local 693 Pascagoula, Mississippi |
$4,730.75 | ||
| Local 11 East Helena, Montana |
$11,496.22 | Local 374 Hammond, Indiana |
$3,821.00 | ||
| Local 105 Piketon, Ohio |
$11,012.96 | Local 667 Winfield, West Virginia |
$3,256.00 | ||
| Local 1 Chicago, Illinois |
$10,872.60 | Local 647 Ramsey, Minnesota |
$2,755.75 | ||
