Ellen Tauscher: “on June 2, my fellow Californians will be voting on Proposition 226, a proposal to handicap the efforts of labor unions…”

“on June 2, my fellow Californians will be voting on Proposition 226, a proposal to handicap the efforts of labor unions by limiting their ability to spend the dues they collect from their members. While Prop 226 is designed to sound attractive to working families, its real purpose is to put an undue burden on union members. Prop 226 would force unions into the unworkable position of seeking written approval from their members each year before spending any of the money for political purposes. Currently, union members who choose to restrict the use of their union dues for political purposes may do so. Prop 226 instead places the onerous burden of unnecessary paperwork requirements on the vast majority of union members who want their unions to act on their behalf. This requirement would limit the free speech of union workers and impose burdensome red tape on the unions. This House recognized the folly of Prop 226 when it rejected similar legislation known as the Paycheck Protection Act most recently. I hope Californians will follow the House's lead by defeating Proposition 226.”