The influence industry sometimes produces strange bedfellows. Case in point, according to recently filed lobbying disclosure reports from 2014’s first quarter: The same lobbying firm that represents Koch Companies Public Sector and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to keep the IRS from tightening up regs on dark money groups also represents one of the biggest names in organized labor.

Of course, organized labor is not necessarily unfriendly to the idea of outside money groups; unions have made great use of super PACs and have been linked to liberal dark money groups like Patriot Majority . But the prevailing narrative of partisan politics puts unions on the opposite side of the battlefield from the billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch (and by extension the conglomerate they own, KCPS).

Last week, the lobbying firm Siff & Associates filed disclosures indicating it was paid $50,000 by KCPS to lobby on H.R. 3547 , specifically a provision to “prevent the IRS from using funds to target groups based on their political views, or spending public money ” as well as a proposed IRS rule to add more oversight to dark money groups. The firm described this activity as lobbying for “General oversight of IRS efforts to curtail public education by 501(c)(4) entities on issues contrary to the positions of the Administration.”

The Carpenters union spent $20,000 on lobbying in the first quarter, and spent $320,000 in all of 2013.

KCPS, on the other hand, spent $10.4 million last year on lobbying.

One of Siff & Associates’ other union clients — the Sergeants’ Benevolent Association — lobbied on 501(c)(4) oversight, according to reports filed by the firm. The language is similar to what Siff used in the Koch filing — albeit taking the tack that the legislation and oversight could hinder union political activity.

Follow Russ on Twitter: @russchoma

Images: David Koch speaking in Orlando, Fla., last year. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)



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