Pro-Choice

The sun may rise in the east, but in contemporary America new ideas seem to have their dawn in the west. Twenty years ago, Californians passed Proposition 13 that signaled a tax revolt in the United States. Recently, Californians voted in favor of Proposition 209 eliminating state-sponsored discrimination and preferential treatment on the basis of race, gender, religion, or ethnic group. On June 2, California voters will consider Proposition 226 directed at giving workers the option to refuse to have their union contributions used for political causes without their consent. The outcome of this vote, if mimicked elsewhere, could have dramatic political impact, as union members decline to have their contributions directed to left-wing political causes.

Proposition 226, officially known as the "Political Contributions by Employees, Union Members, Foreign Entities Statute," is rooted in the 1988 Supreme Court case Communications Workers of America v. Beck. When Harry Beck found that his compulsory union dues were being used for political purposes, he sued to get a refund of his money. The Supreme Court agreed with Beck, and ruled that the National Labor Relations Act only authorized the use of compulsory fees for dealing with "the employer on labor-management issues," not political advocacy.

In 1992, President Bush issued Executive Order 12800 requiring federal contractors to inform their employees of their rights under the Beck decision. Since Clinton, the Federal Government has ignored any responsibility to inform workers of their rights. Proposition 226 is a step to redress this.

We all send money to organizations for a variety of purposes. We purchase groceries and stocks, as well as contribute to local and national charities. A part of this money surely finds its way into political advocacy, some of which we may object to. By and large these transactions are voluntary. If we object to the political advocacy of a charity we are free to cease donations. What makes union use of money for political causes problematic is the fact that union dues in some states are compulsory. The only way to avoid contributing to causes, many of which are only peripherally related to labor issues, is to quit one's job. So long as payments remain compulsory, union dues constitute legally compelled tribute.

Proposition 226 would require employers to obtain prior written permission from employees for withholding any portion of an employee?s paycheck that goes to political advocacy. The employee has the right to retain a portion of his withholding. For

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