Prop 75 - Restrict Political Contributions with Union Dues

Vote Yes!

This law prohibits public employee unions from using union dues for political purposes except with the consent of individual employees.

All I say, is that it's about time! My only complaint is that this only covers public employees and not private sector employees. However, it's a step in the right direction. Let's pass this and then tackle the private sector in the next election.

I heard on the news today that many teachers are crying out because the teacher's union is raising their dues by $20-30 a month to payback a loan they the union took out to help fund the latest television slime campaign against the governor. That is simply unfair. And teachers simply have to pay the extra fees regardless of whether they supported that ad campaign or not. This now gives them a choice. My wife has to belong to a union for her job and I cringe every month when she pays her dues knowing that at least half of them are going to liberal political purposes. In the last election, I voted opposite the union on every single item. So why is my money going to support their views when they oppose mine?

The opponents continue their rant about teachers being under attack with this law. They claim that there is a hidden agenda to limit the effectiveness of the union. duh! It allows those with opposing viewpoints to contribute their money elsewhere. If enough people do this, then yes it will limit the power of the unions. Unions have too much power anyway, and the liberals can't tell the difference between an attack on unions and an attack on individuals. They like to personalize it to appeal to our emotions. Under the new law, the unions will get the political contributions of those who actually agree with their political views. Perhaps this will make the unions more moderate or conservative in order to keep the money coming in from people who can't stand the liberal left.

The other complaint from the opposition is that it limits the effectiveness of the public employee unions while doing nothing with the private sector leaving their unions powerful. I grant them this, but we have to start somewhere. Let's go after the private sectory next. My wife works in the private sector and will not reap the benefits of this law. But I want to see a similar law on the next ballot targetted at the private sector.

Vote YES! and give public employees a choice as to where they contribute their political dollars.