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Sen. Scott Wagner overboard on ‘paycheck protection’ amendment

Sen. Scott Wagner overboard on ‘paycheck protection’ amendment

Sen. Scott Wagner overboard on ‘paycheck protection’ amendment (YDR opinion)

York Daily Record editorial

Updated:   01/26/2015 07:41:03 AM EST2 Comments

 

Sen. Scott Wagner is proposing a constitutional amendment to prevent union dues deductions from state paychecks. (File)

A constitutional amendment? Really?

That’s Sen. Scott Wagner’s plan to assure so-called “paycheck protection” in Pennsylvania?

It seems a bit extreme — like the proverbial squashing of a mosquito with a sledgehammer.

In fact, that’s a pretty good analogy of his effort.

Here’s a York County businessman who seems to have an incredible amount of money to throw around to influence politics and policy in this state, trying to make it harder for public-sector union members to band together to exert their own influence on state issues.

Mosquito, meet sledgehammer.

Of course, unions aren’t single mosquitoes, they’re formidable forces in state politics. Members swarm together to be more effective in shaping public policy than any single member could be on his or her own.

Union agendas are not always in the taxpayers’ best interests. But citizens have a right to organize — just as wealthy, anti-government garbage company owners who (ironically) profit from municipal monopoly contracts have a right to organize against them.

The playing field seems fairly level right now, but Sen. Wagner’s constitutional amendment seeks to tilt it against unions.

So, why a constitutional amendment?

Because legislation that would prohibit the state from deducting dues from union members’ paychecks failed last term.

Now Gov. Tom Wolf is in office. He opposes this idea, and he could veto a bill. But he can’t veto a constitutional amendment.

Of course, amending the state Constitution is a long process. It must be passed in two consecutive terms and then be approved by voters.

It’s hard — and it’s supposed to be. We don’t want to willy-nilly amend the Constitution to address minor or transitory issues. It’s supposed to be a big-picture document.

Some of the debate on Sen. Wagner’s proposal will focus on whether his amendment would have unintended consequences. Many charitable groups such as the United Way are funded via state paycheck deductions, and some of their activities might be construed as political.

Many have noted that the deduction process costs the state very little.

Obviously, Sen. Wagner is free to pursue an amendment.

But it seems like there are other, more big-picture constitutional amendments he could go after that would do more to reform state government.

How about term limits for lawmakers?

How about reforming the legislative redistricting process that has been used shamelessly to gerrymander?

How about cutting the size of our very large and very expensive General Assembly?

Yeah, those ideas make more sense as amendments.

 PSCOA StarRobert Storm

Eastern Region Vice President

rstorm@pscoa.org

 www.pscoa.org