Will We Just Be Printing Money?

What do you call a man who’s donated to Bill Halter, a supporter of card check? You may call him the next head of the Government Printing Office (yes, there’s still a publicly run entity for smearing ink on pages).

Roll Call reports on the first confirmation hearing for William Boarman:

Currently a vice president at the Communication Workers of America union, Boarman appeared before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee. Ranking member Bob Bennett (R-Utah) asked him about a recent $250 contribution he made to Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D), who is in a runoff against Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D). The contribution was not mentioned in the materials Boarman originally submitted to the committee.

Not mentioned, you say? Roll Call continues: “Boarman said he made the contribution quickly online and had forgotten he made it until he saw it mentioned in an article Monday, so he ‘immediately’ wrote the committee a letter about it. As a member of the union, he has made regular political contributions.”

It appears Mr. Boarman can simply print off cash to union causes, which brought up an important question: despite his assurances to the contrary, isn’t there reason to wonder whether this member of the Communications Workers of America won’t try to steer projects to unionized printers, in-source more work away from the private sector, or apply “prevailing wage” rules on taxpayer-funded projects?

There’s certainly reason for additional questions and consideration of this one.