AFSCME

"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.

In the race for the 5th CD, Kurt Schrader recently received lucrative endorsements from Oregon AFL-CIO, AFSCME and the Oregon Education Association,  unions with public employees who conveniently allow Schrader's Senate mid-term position as co-chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee in the Oregon legislature to overcome his ardent support for PERS reform back in 2003.

Could such support mean the beginning of the end for Schrader's Democratic primary opponent Steve Marks? Schrader has one of the lowest rated union voting records among his fellow Democrats (even voting against labors precious Majority Sign-Up bill), but seems to keep locking up labor support regardless. Without union support it is unlikely Marks will be able to on what may be as much as $1 million of Schrader's own personal wealth he plans to use to lock up the nomination.

Lewis & Clark law professor John Kroger announced yesterday he won the purple nod from the public employee union SEIU. Although, as the Willamette Week points out, this comes as no surprise to those familiar with opponent State Rep. Greg Macpherson's work reforming public employee pensions back in 2003 when they were crippling Oregon's already ailing economy.

In the race to replace retiring Rep. Darlene Hooley, the following are a few key endorsements to watch for in the Democratic primary as the candidates line up their support. The top GOP endorsements are to follow.

Oregon AFSCME Council 75 has endorsed Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate. The council represents 22,000 workers throughout the state, with a membership that includes corrections officers, child care workers, city government employees, 9-1-1 operators and others. Oregon AFSCME is an AFL-CIO affiliated union.

"Oregon AFSCME does great work representing the men and women who provide vital services to Oregonians,”