"Wisconsin on Steroids:" Arizona Moves To Regulate Unions

I like that word "regulate." Aren't we forever told that the government needs to be regulatin' everything?

We need to regulate these unions.

Sounds good, except for one thing.

Three of the four bills restrict the way unions collect dues and the way workers get paid for union activities. The fourth bans collective bargaining between governments and government workers: state and local. Unlike Wisconsin, it affects all government employees, including police and firefighters.

The one problem here is that firefighters, especially, and cops are politically popular.

I know it makes sense that if you're regulating public unions (see? great word) then logic compels you to regulate them all.

But politics isn't just about strict logic. It's about getting things done.

We'll see if the union-regulation sentiment is strong enough in Arizona to overcome the political popularity of the firefighters. It might, however, wind up being a bridge too far.

It's better to let that one go than lose this important governmental regulation of a key sector.

posted by Ace at 05:40 PM

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