Missouri Republicans target public employee unions

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) has vetoed paycheck protection legislation before. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A measure that would severely limit the power of some public employee unions is advancing through the Missouri state House, opening the latest front in the GOP’s nationwide fight to curb one of the Democratic Party’s wealthiest constituencies.

A House committee approved so-called “paycheck protection” legislation Monday, which would require some state workers to provide annual written authorization for union dues to be deducted from their paychecks.

Advocates of the law say it gives workers a chance to keep more of their money. Critics say it is a thinly-veiled attempt to kneecap public workers unions, which account for tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — of dollars in campaign contributions to Democrats every election cycle.

A similar measure passed the Republican-controlled legislature two years ago, though Republicans couldn’t muster the votes to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s (D) veto. Republicans made legislative gains in 2014, giving them renewed hope they can overcome Nixon’s veto pen.

The paycheck protection bill is one of a handful of Republican efforts this year to undercut the political power of labor unions. Missouri is one of a handful of states where legislators will consider “right to work” measures, which allow employees to opt out of joining a labor union, this year.

Legislatures in Wisconsin, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Ohio, Colorado, Kentucky, Montana and Pennsylvania will also consider right-to-work bills this year. Ohio and Wisconsin pushed other bills targeting public employee unions after Republicans swept to power in the 2010 elections.

Sometimes, however, those pushes have sparked a backlash. Democrats and union officials rallied against the laws in both Wisconsin and Ohio, forcing expensive recall elections and polarizing state opinion. Union leaders promised a similar response to Missouri’s paycheck protection measure if it continues to advance in Jefferson City.

Republicans learned political lessons in both states, as reflected in Missouri’s version of the bill. Under the measure that passed out of committee this week, teachers, social workers and other public employees would have to grant unions permission to deduct dues from paychecks, but police, fire and other public safety employees would be exempt.

Including those unions in other state bills helped Democrats rally particularly outspoken opposition.

Paycheck protection bills have passed into law in Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Washington and Wyoming in the past two decades.