Kansas House Republicans attempted to block political donations made to labor political action committees, Tuesday, instead passing a measure that threatens to undermine “the right” remedy for the unemployment trust fund’s $100 million deficit.
Kansas governor Sam Brownback said Tuesday that wrangling by the Kansas House and Senate on the controversial bid to stifle fundraising by labor’s political action committees is quickly discrediting the state’s unemployment trust.
“We need to deal with unemployment insurance,” Mr. Brownback said. “I’m going to see if we have other options.”
The bill, which has been described by members of the Kansas Legislature as “contentious,” follows in the wake of a number of measures aimed at limiting collective bargaining rights for state public employee unions.
The Kansas House measure would prohibit voluntary direct-deposit contributions by union members to labor PACs, a move that is receiving criticism from Democrats.
