Posted on 10/20/2012 9:53:44 AM PDT by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Labor union members claim Proposition 32, which would limit how unions raise money for California political campaigns, would rob them of their political power.
A clause in the proposition on the November ballot would prohibit unions from payroll-deducted funds for political purposes.
Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College, said the provision weakens the ability of unions to participate in elections.
“They could still try to get voluntary donations from members, but without that steady stream of income via the payroll deductions, it would be a lot harder for them,” he said.
Maria Elena Durazo from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor said, “Without payroll deduction, we could not have the resources to speak on behalf of all workers in California.”
Former California Sen. Gloria Romero, a Prop 32 supporter, said the initiative would actually give power back to the workers.
“It empowers the rank-and-file union member or the union worker at a corporation to say, ‘You can’t just reach into my paycheck and take my money anymore,’” she said.
Prop 32 would also ban corporate and union political contributions to state and local candidates, as well as ban contractor contributions to politicians who award contracts to them.
However, the initiative allows independent expenditures that can be used to support political figures—for example, through Super PACs.
Pitney said that gives corporations an advantage because CEOs can easily cut a check out of corporate funds, while unions have to collect funds one member at a time.
“This will hurt the unions, but not destroy them,” he said.
Prop 32’s biggest donor is Stanford physicist Charles Munger, the son of billionaire Charles Munger Sr.
The younger Munger has given nearly $23 million in contributions to the measure.
“Charles Munger, a conservative Republican, sincerely wants to help Republican causes. Conservative Republicans believe labor unions have been a negative force in California,” said Pitney.
Pitney said a voter should support Prop 32 if they believe labor unions are too powerful.
Otherwise, he said, “If you think (the proposition) would tilt the playing field in favor of corporations and against unions, this is something that you would oppose.”
According to a major poll, only 36 percent of voters are in favor of Prop 32.
Let’s hope so. They are one of the big reasons the state is in the trouble it is. YES ON 32!
File under: People unclear on the concept.
What's the downside?
They can cry me a river!
This is the only prop on the ballot that I’m definitely a yes on.
Boohoo...cry me a river that you wouldn't get to use union dues to elect your liberal politician of choice.
I already sent in my absentee ballot and voted not only yes, but hell yes.
Gee Unions thats the whole freakin point!! I’m ready to vote YES on 32!
Unions have destroyed this state economy, they own the legislators that cast the votes that paid out all the super benefits and now their fried chickens are comin’ home to rooost and they’re unhappy. waaaaaaa...
Time to tell hem and Moonbeam to STFU and embrace sanity.
There are apparently no standards for political ads these days.
CA is owned by public sector union thugs. We need to remove the host for this parasite which is their members cash.
Former California Sen. Gloria Romero, a Prop 32 supporter, said the initiative would actually give power back to the workers. "It empowers the rank-and-file union member or the union worker at a corporation to say, 'You can't just reach into my paycheck and take my money anymore,'" she said.
What is the general take on prop 31?
Dear Union Thugs:
This is a feature, not a bug. Citizens and taxpayers, the People of California, NOT UNIONS, are supposed to have the power. California does not yet have a Mussolini style "corporate constitution", where interest groups are the locus of power.
Rob the unions of power? That’s the *general idea*,comrades!
You Betcha, and that will be Martha Stewart moment, "its a good thing".
Not my state but I hope it passes. Then I am sure it will be overturned by the Courts.
It may rob them of their power now, but what are we going to do about what they’ve done to the pension system to rob the citizens of their tax money?
What also are we going to do to reverse the absolute larceny they committed against California’s taxpayers by the corrupting influence they’ve had on politicians in getting laws passed that make public employees impossible to terminate?
As an education law attorney in California, I can tell you from my personal experience that California Teachers Association, and other public unions like them, have driven California to the brink of bankruptcy.
So my message to the unions, sit down and shut up!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!! Say it again louder and often. LOL.
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