Steyer’s contribution alone — not counting the amount he has pledged to raise — would top the total donations from almost any major Democratic constituency over the last 25 years. According to those Center for Responsive Politics numbers, Steyer’s $50 million is more than the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has contributed in the last quarter century ($45,516,130, two percent of it to Republicans). It’s more than the United Auto Workers has contributed in the same period ($41,669,153, zero percent of it to Republicans). It’s more than the Service Employees International Union has contributed ($38,569,790, two percent of it to Republicans). Go down the list. Only two unions — the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees ($61,339,129, one percent to Republicans) and the National Education Association ($58,783,738, four percent to Republicans) — have contributed more in the last 25 years than Steyer plans to give this cycle.

Back at the Laborers shop, union president Terry O’Sullivan is not even trying to hide his frustration. In an op-ed for the Washington Post Friday, O’Sullivan complained that, “After nearly six years of delay, thousands of pages of research, five environmental impact statements confirming the evidence and millions of public comments, a pipeline that could put thousands of Americans to work and help ensure our nation’s energy security remains stalled.” While O’Sullivan expressed general support for the Obama administration, he slammed what he called its lack of courage in the Keystone matter.