From the AP:

A public employees’ union that plowed millions into Democratic campaigns last year helped craft a governor’s order that has since allowed it to organize thousands of home health workers paid through state programs.

Similar executive orders have been signed in three other states _ Illinois, Iowa and Michigan _ also led by Democratic governors.

Staffers of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, including his top lawyer, were coordinating efforts with the Service Employees International Union District 1199 as they were writing the order, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request. Strickland’s chief of staff, John Haseley, also received an e-mail from the union’s regional political director, Gloria Fauss, asking for the latest draft.

Home health care workers covered by Strickland’s order voted for SEIU representation late last month. The state is scheduled to begin negotiating their contract in February.

Another public employee union generous to Democrats_ The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees _ was also included in the drafting process, records show. It asked for the order to apply to child care workers. The administration opted not to combine the two issues, but Strickland has said he intends to sign a second order regarding child care workers in the coming months.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said the governor saw the order as bringing needed improvements to job conditions for the 7,000-worker independent home health care industry carrying out state programs.

“The development of this executive order was done through a consultative process, and that’s very common,” Dailey said. “We talk to lots of people when developing policy.”

It is funny to watch Keith Dailey try to defend his boss against these allegations… It wasn’t too long ago when Keith himself was the spokesman for the SEIU, and that union essentially works out of the Governor’s office.