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Mark Standriff of Premier Strategies breaks down the charges against former union leader Tyrone Freeman for allegedly embezzling more than $100,000.
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Former president of -- of California's biggest unions faces up utility years in prison the Fed starting Tyrone Freeman with fifteen counts of fraud and corruption.
Including using union funds to pay -- wedding trip to Hawaii.
In all the bad -- embezzled more than 100000.
Dollars in union funds from people he was elected to represent.
Mark Sandra for us from Frontline strategies are mentally joins us now mark everything -- -- about Tyrone Freeman are rising star.
This debt SCI you this guy was the -- waited to be a superstar making a 190000 a year and perhaps.
Ripping off people making nine dollars and hour.
Yeah it's pretty -- and and for those folks that don't know much about the SCI use you mentioned one of the most powerful political force is not just in California.
But in the US but here in this state.
They managed to put tens of millions of dollars in campaign contributions and lobbying every political cycle.
And sometimes it like to use a little political muscle to -- a great video called budget bully.
In which -- rather unpleasant looking SE I U woman is warning alleged legislative committee I mean these are state senators and -- -- Saying we got into office and we get a good memory and come November if you go back our plan would get out of office come like what can watch and -- -- see with the union card.
Think yes you know -- -- some of these old movies that I used to watch do about the unions but.
Here's a thing.
Did they this is a guy who was -- -- a rising star perhaps was gonna move to the national level.
And you know he just really use this position C it was a fight them for -- you have to pay for your trip to Hawaii.
Why isn't the SE -- U out there.
I don't know at his home making a bigger fuss about this after all this is the biggest breach of trust that.
That I've seen in awhile you know again a union leader are rising start just pocketing the money form -- Well it and it would be poetic justice to have the purple shirts as we column here in California.
Head out to Freeman's home to actually do a protest I mean that you get the address some -- -- the protest signs.
But but what I think was really egregious and as you mentioned earlier you know -- the SE -- U represents mostly health care workers and all of them working in homes.
As as home care aides are nurses aides making barely more than minimum wage.
And get a guy like Freeman who has used his influence especially because of -- getting the backing from former SE -- U president Andy Stern.
-- it was okay to be able to use the hard working -- use of these these men and women.
To pay 475.
Dollar glasses of cognac 250 dollar bottles of wine -- to golf resort to what have -- have you.
And it just seems that there's this this kind of feeling of entitlement that's out there.
That has frankly been made public union bosses their popularity of the public opinion polls fall faster than a full bed -- It can't answer that point though mark why why isn't that that rank and file or perhaps maybe it is I mean have you spoken to people just regular folks in these unions and -- to them.
If you had enough a chance the option to opt out of this would -- because I've got to believe that they have to -- like the biggest victims here.
Well you -- studies show infect the ACLU has even promoted itself that over 40% of their membership right now -- registered Republican voters.
And that's why there's a very important vote that's coming up in November it's proposition 32.
Which is a stop special in the interest money.
And basically it -- not just with the public unions but also corporations to to try to.
To back off some of the financial influence of these folks can use not just to the ballot box but in these individual races where they feel now they have control over the politicians that they've helped to put into office.
If prop forty to 32 goes through you'll see unions.
Dominance in California like the SE -- U.
Really fall quickly.
Well I gotta tell you I know a lot of people unions and they resentment should bitterly what the leadership -- their funds and their fees thanks a lot -- we appreciate it.
Now thank you every.
