Organized labor has long been an important financial force in the election of democratic candidates. The new ban against unlimited contributions, known as soft money, leaves unions with extra spending money. The Partnership for America's Families wants to use the money to mobilize Democratic voters in 2004. The partnership has dealt with many internal conflicts and lacks the support of all unions. Unions who do not want to be affiliated with the partnership plan to form their own nonprofit groups and spend their money on internal mobilization.
See "Unions in Disarray on Soft Money for '04", The New York Times, June 16, 2003