In labor news, the executive committee of the AFL-CIO has decided to double how much it spends on political efforts instead of renewing its focus on new union organizing. The decision splits two of the major union leaders in the country: AFL CIO chief John Sweeney and Andrew Stern of the Service Employees International Union. Stern has threatened to pull SEIU out of the AFL-CIO and launch a new workers movement if the AFL-CIO doesn’t engage in more union organizing. He criticized the AFL-CIO’s decision Wednesday to increase its budget for political and legislative activity from $45 million to $90 million. Stern along with Teamsters chief James Hoffa unsuccessfully led an effort for the AFL-CIO to shift $35 million of union funds into new union organizing efforts. Stern said “I don’t think there is a plan for organizing. I do not put much faith in elected officials of either party.” Sweeney argued in favor of increasing the union’s political work. He said “Unless we change the anti-worker policies that are destroying good jobs and stop the forces — from the National Labor Relations Board to state governments — that are rolling back workers’ rights, we can’t win gains for workers.”