AFSCME

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) is questioning what state Sen. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill) will owe to "mega-union," the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, after an additional $180,000 is being invested in advertisements against Chabot in Ohio's 1st Congressional district from left-leaning interest group the Patriot Majority.

Driehaus is challenging Chabot for the seat.

Patriot Majority is being funded by AFSCME.

The additional $180,000 comes after PolitickerOH.com reported that Patriot Majority was already spending over $200,000 on advertisements in the district.

The Chabot campaign questioned how much "big labor is willing to spend to distort Chabot's positive energy record."

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati) responded today to the TV advertisement buy of Patriot Majority hitting the Congressman on the issue of gas prices.

Patriot Majority is a left-leaning advocacy group that spent about $250,000 in advertising time to air a spot critical of Chabot in the Cincinnati area. The advertisement is being funded by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

The spot hits Chabot for voting for "billions in special tax breaks for oil companies even though they're making record profits."

The Chabot campaign issued a statement characterizing the buy as attacking Chabot's efforts "to increase the domestic energy supply." The release also points out that AFSCME has maxed out in contributions to opponent state Sen. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill).

"Steve Driehaus and his special-interest friends are apparently against expanding domestic drilling," said Chabot campaign manager Jamie Schwartz citing the ads opposition to H.R. 6 from the 109th Congress.  "Driehaus and his liberal allies are simply out of touch with voters who want to see lower gas prices and a strategy that leads us to energy independence."

New Hampshire for Health Care chapter announcedCONCORD- A coalition of groups promoting "quality, affordable health care for all" has begun operating in the Granite State.

Health Care for America Now, a national effort led by groups such as the SEIU, AFSCME, MoveOn.org and Planned Parenthood Federation of America, announced at a press conference that they are forming a New Hampshire chapter, New Hampshire for Health Care, aimed at reaching voters throughout the state.

"Our people came together and took out the man who stole all of our pensions, and your pensions too!" she said referring to Democratic state Rep. Greg Macpherson who overhauled the state's PERS system in 2003.

Nevada Senate Minority Leader Steven Horsford (D-Las Vegas).: Horsford said Friday that the governor's call for a special session was an unnecessary 'political maneuver.'LAS VEGAS - Following Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons' surprise announcement Friday that he would call for a special session of the state legislature to address Nevada's budget crisis, state Republicans swung into line behind the governor in arguing that choices are limited between either deferring state employees' cost-of-living allowance increases or laying off workers.

Nevada Democrats and labor unions condemned the call, however, saying a special session is not necessary and disputing the need for a COLA deferment.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio (R-Reno) led the way in supporting the governor, first suggesting the COLA deferment in the governor's release Friday morning.