Senate President Susan Wagle (R-Wichita) speaking at the hearing. (Photo by Stephen Koranda)
A Kansas Senate committee continued hearings today (WED) on a controversial bill affecting union paycheck deductions. The bill would bar unions from taking automatic deductions from members’ paychecks for political purposes. Voluntary deductions of that type are currently allowed. The bill also expands the definition of political activities in which public employee unions can't participate. Senate President Susan Wagle supports blocking the paycheck deductions. She says redefining the union political activities concerns her because those changes cost the bill some votes in the House.
The top Democrat on the committee, Tom Holland of Baldwin City, says he believes the bill is written too broadly and would bar unions from taking part in ANY political activities.