Fresh on the heels of rumors that former union hatchet man Ron Bloom may become "czar" of US manufacturing policy, the AFL-CIO is crowing about the appointment of one of their own to run the most powerful regional Federal Reserve bank. Former electricians union boss Denis Hughes, top dog in a state where a forced unionism stranglehold has crushed the economy and employee freedom, has just been named chairman of New York’s powerful financial oversight board:

Denis Hughes, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, was named chairman of the powerful Federal Reserve Bank of New York today.

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Hughes, a 40-year member of the Electrical Workers (IBEW), has led the New York State federation since 1999.

The New York bank is the operating arm of the Federal Reserve System in New York, northern New Jersey, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is the largest of the 12 Federal Reserve district banks in terms of assets and volume of activity.

Given the Administration’s history of union-stooge appointments and administrative giveaways, we’re not exactly surprised by this latest development. But it is indeed disturbing to witness a slow-motion takeover of government and other powerful institutions by forced unionism proponents under the guise of "hope" and "change."