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Corporate America has deep pockets when it comes to political contributions. Never stingy in past elections, 2002 saw their contributions flow like Niagara Falls.

Corporate America spent a record-breaking amount in this year's political campaigns ― contributing $274 million to House races and $488 million to Senate campaigns. The lion's share of that money went to GOP candidates. The pharmaceutical industry alone donated $18 million to candidates and parties and spent more than $16 million on issue ads.

All in all, Corporate America outspent unions by twelve to one, and that's not counting the corporate funds invested in issue ads.

Now, in the jargon of Wall Street, it's time for their ROI ― Return On Investment.

The pharmaceutical industry, the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce all want special favors in return for the millions they contributed to the GOP victory. Those special favors will harm working families.

The Wall Street Journal reports that big business contributors wants changes in the Fair Labor Act that would restrict who is eligible to receive overtime pay, allow employers to issue comp time instead of overtime, and narrow the regulations for the Family and Medical Leave Act, making it more difficult for employees to take time off to care for ailing family members.

White House economic advisor, Lawrence B. Lindsey has said the administration wants change in the Taft-Hartley Act and the Railway Labor Act to make it easier for the President to intervene in labor disputes and extract wage cuts from workers.

"No way, no how" ought to be our rallying cry.

When peace and prosperity ought to be America’s political agenda, we cannot permit an anti-labor agenda to get any traction on Capitol Hill.

As the Fighting Machinists, it's time to start hammering our foes and to start backing up our friends … big time.