Conservative Group Sells Influence

Pay-for-play, in action: Politico has obtained a letter showing that “The American Conservative Union asked FedEx for a $2 million check in return for the group’s endorsement in a bitter legislative dispute, then flipped and sided with UPS after FedEx refused to pay.” In return for the money, the ACU offered to write op-eds on behalf of FedEx and mobilize its grassroots network. The legislative dispute at the heart of the matter is one that you would think the ACU would take FedEx’s side on: FedEx was trying to block a provision in Congress that would expand union power. The ACU calls itself “the nation's oldest and largest grassroots conservative lobbying organization.”