Influence Alley

Big Labor is keeping up its fiscal-cliff-messaging drumbeat. 

Next week, the AFL-CIO is expecting hundreds of families to hold a "candlelight campaign" to urge lawmakers to keep entitlement programs intact and let tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans expire, the union announced today.

The candlelight vigils, town-hall meetings and other events are pegged to International Human Rights Day, which is Monday. 

Since Election Day, labor has concentrated on getting its message out, holding events in lawmakers' districts and launching ads that target key members of Congress.

The union's latest push has a holiday theme. For instance, Montana's senators will be getting a giant Christmas card that asks them not to cut entitlements and to raise taxes on the wealthy—and there will be carols.