Analyzing Joe Moore's SEIU Money

Andrew Sharp is getting paid $53,000 for consulting to Joe Moore, courtesy of the SEIU Illinois Council PAC. It's listed as an "in kind donation" for "political consulting and mailing." There is no mention, of course, of "annihilating" the Gordon camp, because by any measure Moore just squeaked by. Half the voters in the 49th Ward are questioning the veracity of the last Tuesday's election, so even that is questionable. All that money and expertise for 200 votes! In total, Moore's D2s show 89 receipts for SEIU money, totaling $155,958.01. (Do you think Joe feels like he might owe them a favor or two? Nah.) The SEIU donations were made 1999-2007. Here's how the $155,958 breaks down: SEIU Illinois Council PAC, 111 W Wacker Dr, Ste 2500, Chicago $106,324.01 All of this was donated to Moore's campaign committee in 2007. We're not sure where that extra penny came from, but apparently this union doesn't care about its members' pennies. This money could have purchased a lot of basic health care or emergency food for members in need. Will their investment in Joe Moore help the average SEIU member? How was the money used? The D2 lists it overwhelmingly for "field work," with a lot of "staff work," and "research." None of those descriptions really tell us anything. When researcher Andrew Sharp passed himself off as Seamus the Irishman last Wednesday, was that "field work" or "research," or both? There was also "live calls to voters," provided by The Clinton Group in Washington, D.C. twice for a total of $5231.63. (The D2s can be a slog to read, but the stuff you find is fascinating.) We couldn't find anything listed as "mail fraud," "bingo bribery" or "disinformation." SEIU Local 1, 111 E Wacker Dr, Ste 2500, Chicago $9,500.00 Except for $500 in 2004, all of this came to Moore in 2006 and 2007. SEIU Service Employees Illinois Council, 1165 N. Clark St., Chicago $3,884.00 All donated to Moore in December, 2006. SEIU Local 880 PAC, 1024 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117 $36,250.00 (includes $3,250 from 1999-2004) Apparently this New Orleans chapter of SEIU cares more about the 49th Ward than they do for their still-struggling neighbors in hurricane-ravaged bayou country. This money could have paid rent for a year for six to eight apartments, or a heck of a lot of canned food.