(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers April 8, 2013)
The most relentless assault on labor unions in recent memory has been carried out during the main session of the Kansas Legislature.
It is going to take more than a year—through next year’s Kansas House and gubernatorial elections—to see whether restrictions on the ability of unions to raise political action funds literally puts Democrats’ most reliable source of campaign money out of business.
Besides the new law that prohibits public employers from allowing political action committee deductions from union member paychecks, the Legislature has stricken the ability of local units of government to demand that public construction project works are paid the prevailing wage…which may well take money out of union members’ pockets.
For conservative Republicans, it’s a win of massive proportions that isn’t being talked about much…yet.