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PRESS RELEASE
 May 20, 1999
Union members taking PDC to court Friday over agency's failure to enforce paycheck protection EFF is co-plaintiff in lawsuit aimed at getting new agency rules that cover unions, as well as employers OLYMPIA - Thurston County Superior Court Judge Hicks will decide enforcement of workers’ rights during a three-hour trial scheduled for 1:30 p.m., May 21. The suit is brought against the state by five members of different unions and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, and is different from EFF’s ongoing lawsuit to prove the WEA/NEA is a political action committee. The May 21st suit, called a "declaratory action" asks for agency rules that would enforce the 1992 voter-approved laws prohibiting involuntary payroll deductions for campaigns. Current agency rules and "guidelines" run contrary to that law, EFF contends, as they permit unions to divert payroll deductions to campaigns as long as those funds move through union "general fund." The voter-approved law does not allow such loopholes. Reporters are encouraged to attend. "There clearly was collusion between government and unions to keep workers funding politics" said Bob Williams, EFF president, "this trial will allow those workers their day in court." Several union members who are co-plaintiffs will be attending the trial and are available for interview. Dan Stanley, American Federation of State & Municipal Employees member of Vashon, Jim Johnson, Washington Education Association member of Kent, and Al Powers, Communication Workers of America member of Marysville will be among those at the trial. Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director, (360) 956-3482
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
