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You might have read that paycheck protection legislation, SB
1182, went down to defeat today in Committee of the Whole in the Arizona state
Senate.
In a Senate chamber with a Republican majority, I am stunned
that the bill was turned back. This was an opportunity to finally put an end to
public sector labor unions’ ability to help themselves to union dues from their
members’ paychecks without the member having to actively agree to the automatic
deductions.
This bill would have meant that public sector union members would
have to opt-in annually to automatic dues deductions rather than opt-out.
What do the unions do with those dues? They in part fund
political campaigns against pro-business candidates and work to support the
election of more public sector union sympathizers to office. There are surely
plenty of Republican union members who last election saw their confiscated union dues go on
to fund attacks against Republican candidates.
Last election, ostensibly pro-business candidates were
fortunate to fend off union attacks, though with plenty of help from their
friends in the business community.
But don’t think that a few defeats in 2012 will cause a
change in tactics by Big Labor. They’ll keep coming, especially if there are no
consequences to their anti-jobs campaigns and agenda.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the country’s foremost
business advocacy organization, sent letters to legislators today urging
passage of SB 1182. That the U.S. Chamber, which only rarely delves into state
legislative politics, felt compelled to get involved speaks to the importance
of this issue on a national level. People are watching Arizona.
Even in defeat, there are some real heroes on this one.
Namely Senate President Andy Biggs who put the bill up on the board for a vote,
Sen. Gail Griffin who championed the bill as sponsor, and Sen. Rick Murphy who
last year was outspoken in putting the paycheck protection issue front and
center.
They deserve our thanks. We won’t forget who stood up for
jobs today.
