No on Prop 75

    What it does:

    Prohibits public-employee unions from using membership dues for political purposes without yearly written

    permission of each employee.

    Why we oppose it:

    The initiative is too narrow in scope to truly disable union influence over legislation.

    When all else fails, try again. Supporters of Proposition 75 took the adage to heart when they put the measure on the ballot, which would, in theory, diminish the power of public-employee unions in Sacramento. Several other states have atttempted to pass similar measures, but to no avail; union influence in those areas remains as strong as ever, with unions using the cover of “issue advocacy” to continue political spending.

    The battle to pass “paycheck protection” against union bosses is hardly a “David-and-Goliath” match the governor would have us believe.

    Rather, the plan is a wasteful measure, as union employees, public and private, already have the right to opt out of paycheck politicking. While backers say the initiative will give public union employees that benefit of choice, there is nothing that keeps them from exercising the power now: Union members that oppose political spending can simply elect union leaders of the same mind.

    In addition, specifically muzzling just the public unions is beyond disingenuous. There are many entities that funnel big money into politics, including corporations and nonprofits, which have been dubiously ignored in Proposition 75.

    Regardless of which group casts the largest shadow over the capital, it is evident, using other state legislation as examples, that Proposition 75 would do nothing to loosen the unions stranglehold on politics.

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