Union Dues Bill Heads to Floor, With Changes

A bill prohibiting the automatic deduction of public-sector union dues for political purposes will head to the floor of the Senate after clearing its final hurdle in the Rules Committee Friday, but not before it received some changes allowing public-worker unions to receive automatic deductions for nonpolitical purposes.

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said the amendment clears up the issue he claims was being muddied by union members during a previous committee hearing earlier this week.

"Ibelieve this amendment does address what I think was some misleading testimony in the budget committee, and some confusion, and even some demagoguery. It clarifies that the only intent was to get the government out of the business of collecting money for political purposes," Gaetz said.

Union representatives, however, were not placated by the amendment.

"Adues deduction is from an employee's paycheck that he's already earned. Depending on how they want to spend it -- I don't think the employers or anybody else should be telling them how they should spend it," said Gary Rainey, president of the Florida Professional Firefighters.