Reply #378: NJ – ALEC State Chairman State Sen. Steve Oroho (R) Denies ALEC Models & Gets Union Money MULTI Aug [View All]

Four trade unions have contributed a combined $15,475 to Republican incumbent Sen. Steve Oroho's (R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon - 23rd District) re-election campaign. Oroho's political opponents say the unions are ignoring ideological beliefs -- unions typically back Democratic candidates -- to hedge their bets, as if on a horse race. Experts cite building relationships as the reason for the donations.

Oroho is a state chairman of the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. The conservative organization opposes living-wage laws and supported Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker's February bill to strip government workers of most of their collective bargaining rights.
Selby said Oroho's ALEC connection made him a bad bet for labor, but the senator downplays the connection.
Oroho said he was more of a "liaison" to the organization and does not serve on any "committees or anything like that."
"I have never taken a piece of legislation and said, 'OK, I got this from ALEC,'" he said.
Oroho said he agrees with ALEC's mission of promoting the "Jeffersonian principles" of personal responsibility, free markets and limited government. "Heck, I've been saying that my whole life," he said.
Efforts to reach all of the unions that contributed to Oroho's campaign were unsuccessful as of late Friday afternoon.

UNIONS BACK REPUBLICAN Labor union campaign donations for Sen. Steve Oroho, R-Sussex/Morris/Hunterdon:
•Operating Engineers Local 825, of Springfield, N.J.: $1,000
•International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 94, of Hightstown, N.J.: $4,000
•International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102, of Parsippany, N.J.: $7,950
•United Association of New Jersey Plumbers Local 24, of Springfield: $2,525
Source: June 18 N.J. Election Law Enforcement Commission reports