In the 2004 election SEIU gave tens of millions of its members’ dollars to a political drive to defeat the president. Not only was the money wasted, but it apparently was used in illegal ways. The Politico reports:

The Federal Election Commission has fined one of the last cycle’s biggest liberal political action committees $775,000 for using unregulated soft money to boost John Kerry and other Democratic candidates during the 2004 elections.

America Coming Together (ACT) raised $137 million for its get-out-the-vote effort in 2004, but the FEC found most of that cash came through contributions that violated federal limits.

Good to know 2008 will break all sorts of political-giving records by labor leaders — but will that include record fines, as well?

UPDATE: In a fit of forgetfulness, I forgot the hat tip for Carter Wood. My bad.