More Paycheck Deception in Jeff City

House, Senate Hold Hearings on Paycheck Deception Bills

Written by Jonathan Shorman
Apr. 04
news-leader.com
JEFFERSON CITY — Both the Senate and House held hearings Wednesday on so-called paycheck protection bills, but a Springfield lawmaker’s bill is likely dead on arrival in the Senate.

The Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee considered House Bill 64, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield.

Burlison’s bill applies to all unions and would require employees to authorize annually in writing contributions to union political action committees or the use of union dues for political purposes. The bill does exempt first responders, however.

On March 14, the Senate approved Senate Bill 29, a different union-related measure. That bill, sponsored by Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla, also requires annual written consent from employees when fees or dues go to political purposes.

Brown goes further than Burlison in that his bill requires annual written consent for deduction of any fees or union dues.

In addition, Brown’s bill only applies to public employees; Burlison’s bill applies to both private and public employees.

The Senate has already shown it is not interested in a paycheck bill applying to the private sector. During debate on Brown’s bill, an amendment to expand the scope of the legislation to include private-sector unions was voted down 31-1.

A House committee considered Brown’s bill Wednesday morning. Brown told the committee the requirements in his bill likely would not be constitutional for private-sector unions.

“I don’t think you can tell private labor unions what they can and cannot do,” Brown said.

Both bills provide some type of exemption for first responders. Rep. Kevin McManus, D-Kansas City, asked Brown if first responders had been exempted for political purposes in order to get the bill passed.

“That’s a lot of it,” Brown replied, drawing murmurs from the audience, which mostly included opponents of the bill.

Brown warned the representatives against changing the bill.

“I don’t think much of a change will make it through the Senate,” Brown said.

Senate Democrats filibustered for several hours in early March, until amendments were offered to soften the language in the bill. Democrats still voted against the bill but ended their filibuster.