(Flickr Photo by Holley St. Germain)
The Kansas House has approved a bill that restricts a type of political fundraising currently used by public employee unions. The bill would bar public sector unions from making automatic withdrawals from employee paychecks for political advocacy. Supporters of the bill say it keeps workers from being pressured into making contributions. Reid (“reed”) Petty is a Republican from Liberal.
Critics of the bill point out that the contributions are both voluntary and optional, and say the measure is aimed at limiting the political influence of public employee groups. John Wilson is a Lawrence Democrat.
The bill will now go to the Senate, where similar legislation died in 2011. The Senate now has new, conservative leadership, so it's believed this bill has a better chance of passing this time.