The FL GOP are out to bankrupt unions' power by eliminating their campaign contributions.

[seafan]

They are after the same overall agenda as Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin. But unlike in Wisconsin, the FL GOP are going after union dues first.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet John Thrasher, Jeb Bush's wrecking machine in the Florida state Senate.


Top Florida state lawmaker wants to limit use of union dues for politics


By KATHLEEN HAUGHNEY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

February 8, 2011

TALLAHASSEE -- - A leading Senate Republican has filed a bill that could strip unions of some of their political strength, barring payroll deduction for union dues and prohibiting dues from being used for political activity without written consent.

“I think it’s a freedom issue for people who now are conscripted to having their money taken out of their paychecks,” said Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine. “I think it’s more of a thing where they can volunteer to decide what they want to do.”

But at least one union – the teachers’ union – sees it as political payback for its opposition to one of Thrasher’s top legislative priorities last year, a bill that would have drastically reformed teacher pay, partially basing salary bumps on student test data. The bill, also a pet project of former Gov. Jeb Bush’s education foundation, received major pushback from teachers who showed up in large numbers to the Capitol to protest the proposal.

Gov. Charlie Crist ultimately vetoed the bill, citing concerns about fairness to educators, particularly special education teachers whose students might have trouble with a standardized exam. The veto gave Crist a huge amount of support from teachers in his unsuccessful bid for U.S. Senate, but it enraged GOP lawmakers, including Thrasher, and marked Crist’s departure from the Republican Party.

.....

(bold type added)



John Thrasher and Jeb Bush conspiring in their younger days.


John Thrasher now.


Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, center, with fellow Republican Sens. Don Gaetz, left, and Sen. Mike Haridopolos on the Senate floor (AP)

And the weasels all have the same grin.

By the way, that guy on the right, Mike Haridopolos, is the current FL Senate President. He was admonished this week by his colleagues on the Rules Committee for failure to disclose his finances accurately on state government ethics forms.


Florida, we damn well deserve better government than these GOP scoundrels.

[inademv]

1. I'd deal with the written consent part if...

They make it so that no corporation can donate without written consent from all shareholders and owners.

[pacalo]

4. After the SCOTUS handed the "Citizens United" decision to them on a silver platter,

there's no room for compromise when they want everything. They are unbelievable!

[FBaggins]

2. What percentage of dues do the unions expect to lose?

Do they really think that THAT many members don't really support their union?

[Historic NY]

3. Folks any group that doesn't contribute to Republicans is under attack..

WTF are the Democrats lawyers and other that will defend this, cowering in some corners.

[madrchsod]

5. they can do nothing about the citizens united ruling ......

and they know it. if this ever made it to a federal court they would lose.

[defendandprotect]

6. Almost doesn't matter -- unions are so reduced in size now -- they give I think

something like one penny to the Dems vs every $1 the GOP gets!

And in 2010, Dems got $1 for every $7 the GOP from corporations!!

Think it's time for Dems to bite the bullet and stop taking corporate bribes?