as well. >> their fingerprints are there. it is much more driven by the republican agenda. based on our observation of the data to balance society. not part of any believe. >> host: donald barlett and james steele authors of "the betrayal of the american dream" both journalist extraordinary americans, in your 70's? >> almost. [laughter] >> host: but as of the three at the top of american

journalism held up as the investigative journalism. a book you cannot stop reading. "the betrayal of the american dream" donald barlett. james steele. thank you for joining us.

>> in michigan school districts spend one quarter of the budget on retirement benefits. in wisconsin property-tax is what up every year over the past decade. why? two words. government unions. the use power to press government to put their interest first. with contracts unions insist of seniority based layoff giving job security within the union but it means

school districts are forced to lay off the new higher even if it is a star performer. parents object but the unions can except that. they also want generous retirement benefits. in michigan 27% of the budget goes to provide pension and health benefit. in this state you can retire after 25 years to collect full benefits. many teachers retire late forties. but in the classroom is a problem with a tremendous budget crunch. when they talked about raising it at 60 they use their clout to kill the bill. they wanted the cut to come elsewhere.

they wanted taxes to go up. in wisconsin and school districts to not have the power to roll back union benefits. the only solution was higher taxes. unions are fine with that but not until scott walker's reform did they gained the ability to control the budget to bring costs down. their property taxes went down. government serves people, protecting the public, giving education, not cutting into the takeover pay. common good has to take and -- interest over the ventas group. government unions make this a possible. it means the people who are elected representatives have to sit with government unions and bargain as equal to spend taxes, and operate

the government. unless governemnt unions degree policy cannot be enacted. if the school district elects unanimously on a platform instead of evaluating a performance and promotions to the best and remove an effective teachers, it does not have the power. they have to sit down with the union and they say no. that is that. the school board does not have the power. it is undemocratic in the did move it recognize. 1959 this cio executive council stated goal back in terms of excepted collective bargaining procedures, government workers have no right would is available to every citizen. " it has changed its mind.

now states give them power within government and it is disastrous. i am happy to welcome mallory factor to talk about his book "shadowbosses" how governemnt unions twisted the government from public good to their own interest. he has the expertise to read the book a professor at this is a doubt and a member of council of foreign relations who has testified about financial regulations. also the senior editor for thestreet.com and has written on economic issues from "forbes" magazine, "wall street journal." he served as chairman of the free enterprise fund advocating limited government and overtaxes.

of the same that brought the lawsuit challenging constitutionality of sarbanes-oxley. also is senior fellow 2007 through 2011 in cheered the economic roundtable in 2009. please join me in welcoming mallory factor to the heritage foundation. [applause] >> this is throwing. it is an honor. so many people that help with this book. the heritage people have been outstanding. to have their people to join me. also odeon, he said this up. what day delight ibm

intimidated little bit to have james year and number of things in the book because of him and we quote him extensively in his work is important for america pro of what to think my publisher in the audience and also daunt sitting over there who has been a godsend with the help it is there but as lot -- as well as ours why roebuck and started this project with my wife when year-ago i have spoken about growing debt and why it grows be amended its means.

i have been asking that for years and looking at the root causes of excessive spending. i discovered "shadowbosses" are setting the agenda in congress, statehouses, setti ng the agenda and the city council, a school board. the government spends too much and hiring too many and paid too much. this is our got to the subject to increase spending which by the way increasing their dues giving them more money to spend on politics. if this corrupts cycle keeps growing benefiting unions more than the government

employees. driving the nation into debt that is why i explore the topic somebody said what is a "shadowbosses"? i will explain that. what do they have to do with governemnt unions? they're the people we really work for. we hold accountable all our fathers telling us to study harder for bright future and our mothers pushing us to stay out of trouble and the football coach from the sidelines god is our shadow pause for many of us.

unfortunately for many political leaders there shuttle buses are the government employees union bosses. they tell them what to do, which legislation to support, and when to bend and demands of contract negotiations. bear their to patch the politicians on the back. and tear them down. is shocking over 20 million people work for government government, 41 percent of those are represented by a union. government workers are five times as unionized as private employees.

only seven of 26% private-sector are represented by a union. far less are actually union members. the rate of unionization various. in 20 states less than 20% remembers but in 15 states it is more than 50%. who are the union members? firemen, police, postal workers who are among the most unionized but they represent almost every type of government worker including border patrol agents, civilians in the military, office workers, university professors, graduate students and even at a zookeeper.

government is the growth area compared to the private sector. and the numbers that james developed over 219,000 in the auto industry but almost two 1/2 times for the post office alone. what does this mean for our nation? people feel we have lost control of our government and politicians no longer answer to the american people. government employee unions have a huge influence and

driving paid government's spending. in the little time we have remaining i will give some of then policy concerns. there are many more. adjust seven. number one unions' drive spending on employees. private-sector unions have to make sure they're not so great that they do not go out of business. at rages concessions to not drive government out of business and not make them lose their jobs. unwieldy contracts make government immensely bigger, more expensive, create debt, and bankrupt city states.

and more burdensome on taxpayers. number two, unions are private organizations and we give them special benefits and treatment from the government. realize their private organizations. government employe unions get business from the government but not a part of it. that is the business not because they work for public good. our government elevates one private group at of proportion to anyone else. taxpayers, as it descends, even in union members. we believe strongly with our right to speak.

but not right to be listened to unless you are a government employee you can. you have a right to talk up they do not have a right to listen to you. with collective bargaining therefore stand to bargain with the union. they don't have to bargain with taxpayers are any other group. unions are businesses that are run for the benefits for our nation is in deep trouble because of it. there for reunions densities

from taxpayers. american taxpayer unwittingly is paying for huge amounts of time while they do you need work. in "shadowbosses" we've put the numbers together. federal the employees spend over 3 million hours on official time but does private were costing $137 million but state -- state/local/county 23 million man hours per year at a cost of over $1 billion. that is a direct subsidy not including office

space, copiers, telephones as those other items. when we come back teachers, workers, high unemployment, why are we spending $1 billion per year to subsidize the unions? the tsa was recently unionized. before we found a report submitted to comment security. it had 62 members full-time working on anti-union business. coming from their own notes.

it is shocking. i'm not revealing other agency numbers because they don't reveal it. nationwide that 23 million man hours is staggering. it is mind-boggling we do this. it is called official time part of the west coast. five u. s. c. 3171. number four. unions corrupt hour political process. they're not just bankrupting the country but compromising system of free election. governemnt unions u.s bought and paid for politicians for legislation granting an ending benefits.

they like to say they get to go back elect their own bosses they put into power people who make all decisions about salary, benefits, work rules, laws, regulations to govern themselves. if the politicians don't perform, they throw them out to. they will do anything to elect politicians to serve their interest. spending hundreds of millions of dollars millions of employees dues to send in ground troops that are paid volunteers to get out the vote for alliances with organizations supporting the pro union agenda.

money flows from government employees unions to politicians back to the same union and the never ending cycle of greed and corruption. they know it will cycle back in return for their vote if they cross them they will throw them out of office. unions reward friends and punish enemies effectively. amount of money they can bring to bear is staggering. they collect $14 billion in dues. teachers' unions alone collect $2 billion per year just from dues. as dimension in "shadowbosses" in great detail.

they spend 20% on political activity which is close to the percentage of representing the members. the other 60% with administrative overhead we would see it is spent on various forms of political activity. number five. road governemnt unions are bankrupting our states. the longest and strongest history are also the state's with the worst budget crisis. government employees unions are a major contributing factor to state and local budgetary crisis. bankrupting states without rages over time and outrages

pensions for government employees and crowding out of their spending which we may disagree but liberals and progressives should agree they are being crowded out. the 10 states with the highest that per-capita all our have been the -- heavily unionized and none of them are right to work. taxpayers are fleeing for greener pastures for comerica it is becoming the unionized nation and a free nation. number six. governemnt unions promote

left is some. well working on "shadowbosses" i suspected unions elect friendly politicians to office not only the prelude and go to but the reliable leftist boats. they have the abysmal voting records that matter to their members and conservatives. against business of family values, life, second amendment, we have a chart we can share with you it is add-on shuttle buses.com showing the money spent. -- "shadowbosses".com they don't agree the members are

not even knowledgeable and it is hidden from them. with this immense spending on government employees unions that matters to their members in they do not see a. government employees unions give millions to other organizations the goal is to build alliances with like-minded groups said they will support on the issues. it is a very effective technique to hold together the left-wing conspiracy. finally, what is the next frontier? governemnt unions larger than the private sector.

now that out of control budgets cause the government to contract their looking for a new front years. unions have been working to organize new groups who receive subsidies for about "shadowbosses" details and 10 states government employees unions cavalry forced home care workers at the including parents caring for their own children or parents force them into union and take their dues. what is the next up? -- step? organize the model to new groups of americans. disability recipients, veterans, other groups receiving benefits

such as social security recipients. the american federation asked me to promote retirement unions. they do this already. they will lobby government for social security and medicare. one trend there turning from organizations that represent employees into lobbying organizations. as than 80 state which heritage fights against it becomes commonplace, it will be easier to force americans to force lobbying on their behalf like a force workers to have forced representation now.

think about it. 20.5 billion government employees already presented at 41%. but tens of millions of americans receive benefit or entitlement who could be unionized with a few tweaks of the law. and how much more and come could be generated, i don't know if you realize this but there is about $1 billio that go to the "shadowbosses." to support political activity and leftist organizations. for the past half century government employees unions have been winning. it has spent ratcheted up.

never down. to greater union power. it is our job to avert that pattern to restore sanity and fiscal policy to our country. thank you for being here today to hear about "shadowbosses." i hope it will make a difference to understand government employees unions. thank you. [applause] >> i just have one question. the government employee unions reported the represents government employees but what fraction voted for the union that speaks in their name? >> across the board less

than 10%. people get it job add the next thing they know they have to be a part of the union. less than 10 percent have never voted. when they get the opportunity who have dropped out almost immediately. >> i am unaffiliated. i enjoyed your talk. i was support -- surprised you never mentioned democrats. they pursue their self-interest but the implicit politicians who will work for them

predominately as the democratic party? >> i go a step further. some say the democratic party has a subsidiary called unions i believe government employee unions has a subsidiary called the democratic party. that chart at shadowbosses.com you can see the top 10 candidates but they contribute to our all democrats. >> this could not be more timely. it could have quite an impact over the next few months and discussion.

on the federal level which is accurate but with the state level now in springfield illinois a lot of the success of unions is as much to both parties. the uc a wide variety of states the way they handled this? men wear the successes and failures like? >> thanks for the question. you do a great job. by the way. we think there are 23 right to work states. but what it is that really? free to petition government?

no. only seven states you're not forced under collective bargaining. 23 states you don't have to pay. but that differential of 16 you can be forced come as 60% more union members per capita. it is not just a matter of right to work but being forced into collective bargaining. you cannot petition your employer or sell your neighbor freely. there are only seven states. >> >> talk about obamacare the

constitutionality or the cost to employers and small businesses. it is interesting you explore the relationship between unions and promoting obamacare. >> thank you for the question. 1.5 million union members in the health care sector. under obamacare it will go up a 21 million. but with government giving money their various ways to unionize. a good analogy with canada

and socialized medicine, a 60% unionization of health care. it was far less before it was socialized. you will see huge quantities of people being unionized under obamacare. that is why eight the unions supported it. nothing to do with cadillac they know they get more members and $1 billion of dues for every 1 million members and 20 million potential new members. they are staggering. >> talk about the puerto rico difficulty selling this to the public when they have been so good with policemen

and firefighters? >> yes. but over the past few decades 18 /1 this student to teacher ratio eight /1 we have done no better. put the best example is in new jersey and nevada teachers of the year were fired. teachers of the year. why? they were new teachers doing a great job. union rules said they go. they cannot get rid of the bad teachers who are not doing a good job.

if you could get rid of the bottom 10% to make it much more effective. where we going to school 180 days per year when many other arguing 220? why? the teachers union will not let you. you can only paid the same for the physics and math teacher as you do for the physical lead teacher. and knocked piece marching but the skill sector is not as in demand. added she gets the art degree she gets more money

for being the art teacher. these are you new rules. not established for our children. i love the quote some people say he did not say it. >> glen school children start paying dues. >> in terms of thinking through how to do this and we talk about a crash history? >> it goes way back.

going back to jfk. it is simple to change it. you don't first -- force workers to pay dues to keep a job. he can join a union but does not have to. we should stop subsidizing government employee unions. very simple and we should change sell-off. i have been told there will be legislation forthcoming to say if you want to have people working full-time

then pay them. don't ask us to pay for them. the dues checkoff means to take money out of the paycheck just like withholding tax. of the government should not take money added paychecks automatically. four. people should have the right or not to be represented by union. 43 states that does not exist. they should sell their labor or petition their employer. last comment billions of government workers that never voted for union should

have the right to vote. and working hard to get that changed the remember should vote against in a secret ballot. a secret ballot. that is the 51 quick idea is. giving workers and union members more freedom. >> i am from italy. i am a professor.

to say i am so lucky. >> we're getting there. >> but as a businessman the boss -- sorry. >> it is the union boss calling. [laughter]

[inaudible] letter a cdn has privileges which is almost impossible to eliminate but then do your similar things so my question is the republican will win the race to the white house. so if they change the situation today haq of any program. >> i hope so. >> there very good

conservatives believing in freedom and values. but if the government employee unions. less than 7% of the workers are government employee unions. of very small amount of people but the amount of power influence the project is astounding. going on with great detail. and then the union heads the union's talk about the 1% admiring wall street.

the secretary treasury makes 840,000 mini makeover 200,000. >> spending hundreds of thousands with access to the white house. being invited to the best defense. they are not little. there truly the 1%. >> [inaudible] >> the boilermakers union if you just use their logo we

get something with their law firm occupies the same address in the kansas city kansas. i was writing a summary how they live the life of luxury receiving $500,000 per year with retirement benefits. and maybe will presume anything. do know how they intimidate people for any reason? >> i don't off the top of my head but many cases.

but then she could rattle them off. >> just those they represent. >> drop us a note and we will get back to you. >> thank you for mentioning us in the book actually as the largest non-union. >> you do a great job. you deserve it. could we speak on the rank-and-file? as president of the largest teachers' unions making $500,000 per year with the transparency how the new member to get that

deprivation out because the union member gets the raw deal but if the rank and file new it would play a huge component. >> you are absolutely right. american federation of teachers headquarters in over half of the employees make over 75,000. >> as president it just an alabama. >> it is good to be a shuttle bus. >> that does not include benefits or expense is.

the hotel in belle harbor florida, a golf course. it is good to be a union boss just not the union member. [laughter] particularly if you did not want to be. it is almost impossible to get out. if you do you could not be a part of the union but then still pay a fee then you can't have any say whatsoever you have to pay and still not to have say. >> have you discuss pensions

and deficits? temecula asking me it a question you could discuss better than i could. i am at the podium. thank you. [laughter] i don't have the figures but we know what is bank of paying our city and state's. going on over the last three years to run up huge amounts of overtime. we cannot afford to do that. the private sector is being shut out. we don't have the numbers but that is a problem with

state and local government. >> the industrial unions if not controlled but infiltrated it organized crime, longshoreman and operating engineers. is it any evidence of organized crime? >> not really. they have become very legitimate. known as the ideal lead amigos. craig becker the famous lawyer is a yale law school grad. he was not going at night and very highly trained business people.

brandywine garden has a very strong academic background the teaching was a minor part but never a classic teacher. if you took the amount of money they take a newly the libyan the top quartile. talk about a huge massive organization. we do go into some of that i cannot go into detail but it the traditional union goes into government employees.

they are fighting over it. >> >> congratulations on your new appointment. >> are you optimistic that all with the debate? >> that is a great question. look at wisconsin and. while. that it is over. what have been in an ohio? the realize wisconsin firefighters are excluded

the power the unions hold in a massive amount of money they control is mind-boggling and this battle has just begun and is far from over. shadowbosses to not want to lose their way of life and want to be 1%. i thank heritage. [applause] this is fabulous.

>> the ohio library the most unique in the country the collection is solely dedicated to authors for ohio people and history. started 1929 as the first lady of the state. she felt everybody paid more intention and to recognize the writers for those who work so hard to get so little attention people say is this the history? reflected in the

poetry, literature, children 's books, romances, us science-fiction, it is a very eclectic collection at any one time. some may be very familiar that would never imagine a relationship. some see it with langston hughes who move to ohio and finished four years of high-school in cleveland one talks about him going to school and a graduating.

and then on a troubled island. and with the postage stamp that was dedicated to him then national launch was in cleveland. we have a wonderful suffrage collection. running for president before women had the right to go to was victoria who put to to -- was quite a character running for president 1873 and her running mate was frederick douglass. who will lead way ahead of her time.

people refer to her as mrs. say 10. she believed women should have equal rights. also the first women -- ii own a newspaper. her father was a shyster referring to him as a snake oil salesmen. then moved to cincinnati and married at age 14, divorced and then it reburied. and then move to england she was very honored and

appreciated. at that point* there word disruptions. she was of free love candidate. >> what is the importance of having a library? it records what is happening in our time. preserving the work from one generation to another. will everything go electronic? i don't think so. one of the fears i have is manuscripts take away t