Speaker Jones twists paycheck "protection" bill

On his blog, Speaker of the House Tim Jones, R-Eureka, continues to push the dubious, in fact fictitious, idea that the so-called Paycheck Protection Act is designed to protect workers.

In fact, as a commenter on the blog notes, the legislation is designed specifically to benefit business interests, such as those in the misnamed Americans for Prosperity and ALEC that have pushed these cookie-cutter bills across the country.

Each pay period, our union members have dues deducted from their paycheck.  These dues fund a variety of purposes, but they often find their way into partisan politics.  With Missouri being a “closed shop” state – meaning you must join the union to be employed if there is a union – employees have absolutely zero choice in their money being spent on political activity.  This is wrong.

HB 64, sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison, proposes a simple solution – if an employee consents annually in writing for their dues to be utilized for political purposes then that amount can be deducted from their paycheck.  This is the same process that many of us utilize to help fund charitable institutions that perform work we care about.  We feel that a simple acknowledgment from the employee should be asked and received before a portion of their paycheck is redirected from their pocket to a partisan political cause.  This legislation must move forward in the Senate, and I look forward to it becoming the law of the land. 

The commenter, Shawn Berry, responds as follows:

Speaker Jones statements on "paycheck protection" simply are not true. Under federal law, no one can be forced to join a union as a condition of employment. They can however be charged a fee to cover costs of representing them if needed. 

Some may be unaware, but the legislation presented by Rep. Burlison mirrors legislation that has been put forth by groups like Americans For Prosperity. AFP is spending millions to alter the course of state governments nationwide. Progesss Missouri broke the story recently with audio evidence of a Republican strategy meeting where an outside lobbyist made it clear that if their "right to work" agenda was not pushed in MO, the donations would cease. Now these scared politicians are on a tight leash and have to do as ordered, regardless how it will impact regular Missourians. 

Mr. Jones should be ashamed to allow such a travesty to occur on his watch. But from judging by the records of the lobbyists gifts he receives, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He's obviously in it for his own interests.