It has become obvious that the SEIU has a major interest in the healthcare legislation. Although the SEIU is a major player in the public union market, it is also one of the largest unions in the private sector. Furthermore, the largest share of its private sector members are healthcare employees: nurses, hospital staff, janitors, and home...
For people who truly are interested in a just and fair society, there’s one easy test for sorting through some seemingly complex issues: Turn the tables. For instance, while considering a controversial law affecting a particular group, it’s best to t getting back with an ex> hink about how fair it would seem if that...
USA’s top teachers union losing members By Greg Toppo, July 3, 2012, USA TODAY The USA’s largest teachers union is losing members and revenue, potentially threatening its political clout. The National Education Association (NEA) has lost more than 100,000 members since 2010. By 2014, union projections show, it could lose a cumulative total of about...
California Supreme Court Declares that the State’s 121 Charter Cities Have a Constitutional Right to Circumvent the Union-Controlled State Legislature and Establish Their Own Policies Concerning Government-Mandated Construction Wage Rates for Taxpayer-Funded Construction Yesterday morning (July 2, 2012), the California Supreme Court ruled 5-2 in State Building and Construction Trades Council v. City of Vista...
For people who truly are interested in a just and fair society, there’s one easy way to sort through some seemingly complex issues: turn the tables. If, for instance, one is debating a controversial law affecting a particular group, it’s best to think about how fair it would seem if that law were applied in...
Last week was a bad week for the SEIU Big Labor Bosses (or as <em>Mariam the Mighty</em> refers to them, the “SEIU 1%”). Mariam, whose fight against SEIU intimidation and misuse of membership dues is chronicled in <a href=”http://www.devilatourdoorstep.com/”><em><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>The Devil at Our Doorstep</span></em></a>, has firsthand knowledge of SEIU abuses. Mariam works for the...
Here Is What’s So Super About Super PACs By Chip Mellor, June 26, 2012, Forbes Media coverage of the 2012 election is dominated by talk about so-called “super PACs.” And, overwhelmingly, that coverage is negative. A Lexis search shows that The New York Times (both print and online) has mentioned super PACs more than 850...
Earlier this week the California Public Policy Center (CPPC) released a study entitled “Understanding the Financial Disclosure Requirements of Public Sector Unions.” The study found that the financial reporting requirements of state and local public sector unions are far less extensive than federal worker unions or private sector unions, and not remotely on par with...
Editor’s Note: The following analysis comparing per capita state government expenses between California and Indiana offers keen insights into what has gone wrong in California, and if anything grossly understates the financial challenges facing Californians. Had the author consolidated local tax revenue by source and expenditures by function – adding these figures to the state...
California Public Unions Win Budget Concessions By Michael B. Marois and James Nash on June 18, 2012 The budget California’s Democratic- controlled Legislature sent to Governor Jerry Brown last week granted concessions to public employee unions even as talks continue on cutting programs for the poor. Democrats removed language that would have authorized the governor...
In the aftermath of the June 5th elections, a dramatic round that included the unsuccessful Governor Scott Walker recall in Wisconsin, and the landslide victories for pension reform in San Jose and San Diego, California, countless pundits have weighed in with their own versions of what it all means. Earlier this week, a heavier than...
Following big victories for public-pension reform in California, the union empire takes to the courts. The nation’s public-sector unions have become so emboldened by years of political victories, and so insulated from voter concerns, that they apparently never considered the possibility that voters, given a clear choice, would turn against them. Last Tuesday was as...
Big Labor took a roundhouse to the chin despite the millions of dollars in member dues spent in an attempt to recall Governor Walker. Conservatives and practical-minded Americans, however, cannot become complacent with this victory. Big Labor showed how desperate it was in orchestrating the offensive recall. Big Labor thumbed its nose at the citizens...
In November 2000, California voters approved Proposition 39, which allows school districts to seek voter approval for school construction bonds at a 55% threshold instead of a two-thirds threshold. One of the conditions in Proposition 39 required of school districts seeking the 55% threshold for passage is to establish a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, with the requirement that “One member shall...