Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist sent a letter to lawmakers today urging them to vote in favor of legislation that ends the automatic collection of labor union dues from government worker paychecks.
According to some estimates, passing legislation to end the practice could prevent a substantial amount of cash (around $10 million) from flowing into Democrat campaign accounts, a point Norquist raises in his letter.
“One of the more egregious aspects of automatic confiscation of union dues from government worker paychecks in Texas is fact that money the state collects for union bosses is in turn funneled to candidates and lobbyists who advance and advocate anti-business, anti-taxpayer policies,” said Norquist in the letter. “Enactment of SB 13 or HB 510 would put an end to this racket. As such, ATR urges you to vote Yes on SB 13 and HB 510.”
“ATR will be educating your constituents and all Texas taxpayers as to how lawmakers in Austin vote on this and other important fiscal and economic matters throughout the legislative session,” he continued.
Earlier this year the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 13 by State Sen. Joan Huffman (R–Southside Place) to end the practice for most state employees, but the legislation has been languishing on Straus’ desk without a referral to committee. Its House companion, House Bill 510, has been referred but has yet to receive a hearing.
Though conservatives in Illinois, Wisconsin, and other states much more liberal than ruby-red Texas have successfully ended the automatic collection of union dues from public employees’ paychecks, the reform has sputtered in the Lone Star State due to liberal Republicans opposing the measure.
Last session, House Speaker Joe Straus and his hatchet-man Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) torpedoed the measure by jamming it up in the State Affairs Committee even after being called out by the Wall Street Journal. Two years later, they appear poised to kill the measure again.
Citizens should call their lawmakers and demand that this reform pass this session and let them know that they will be held accountable if they derail the measure again.
