Protect Arizona Employee Checks (2008)
| Not on Ballot |
|---|
 |
| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
| Protect Arizona Employee Checks | |
| initiated state statute | |
| Year | 2008 |
| Subject | Requires all political donations be voluntary |
| Sponsored by: | Arizona Taxpayers Federation |
| Opposed by: | AEA, AFL-CIO |
| Current Status | |
| Status | Filed |
Protect Arizona Employee Checks was an initiated state statute that did not make the November 4, 2008 ballot. It would have required specific written approval from each worker for any deductions that ultimately would be used for political purposes. Any public or private employer that disobeyed the law would have been subject to a fine of at least $10,000 per occurrence.
The initiative needed to gather 153,365 signatures on petitions by July 3, 2008, to put the measure on the November ballot, it did not reach this goal.
Arizona law prevented labor dues from directly financing candidate campaigns. A bill similar to this measure was brought before the legislature earlier in 2008, but it failed due to questions about regulating a voluntary organization. This measure used a broader definition of "political purposes" to include not just working for or against ballot measures but also lobbying for or against bills before the Legislature.
Support
The initiative was sponsored by Tom Jenney, executive director of the Arizona Federation of Taxpayers, a chapter of Americans for Prosperity. Jenney said:
We're just trying to make sure that employers will not yank this money out of people's paychecks without them really knowing and really saying, "OK, if this is going for political causes I really have opted in."[1]
The Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona and the National Federation of Independent Business were also supporting the initiative.
Funding
Funding for the measure was expected to come from Americans for Prosperity and other private donations. Supporters expect to spend $500,000 for paid circulators.
Opposition
President of the Arizona Education Association (AEA) stated the initiative ignored that Arizona is a Right to Work state, that employees have a choice to join a union or not, and that the 34,000 members all contribute voluntarily.
Executive Director of the Arizona AFL-CIO said the measure was retaliatory, targeting only unions. She said the bill did not address civic groups, chamber of commerces, or corporations getting permission from shareholders.
Status
The initiative needed to gather 153,365 signatures on petitions by July 3, 2008, to put the measure on the November ballot.
See also
- Arizona 2008 ballot measures
- Arizona Initiative and Referendum Law
- Campaign finance requirements for Arizona ballot measures
- Petition drive deadlines in 2008
- Arizona signature requirements
External links
- Full text of the initiative
- Arizona Secretary of State, 2008 Initiative Applications
- Americans for Prosperity/Arizona Federation of Taxpayers
- Arizona Federation of Taxpayers
Footnotes
- ↑ Arizona Republic: "Taxpayers federation targets union funding," April 10, 2008
