Prop. 3 on state GOP primary ballot is bad policy

Leader of firefighters group says measure would infringe on public employees’ rights to handle their paychecks

Normally dedicated to limited government and opposed to government overreach, the Republican Party of Texas is making a serious mistake with Proposition 3 in the ongoing primary.

As presented on the primary ballot, Proposition 3 endorses blatant government overreach in an effort to dictate whether firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public employees can deduct money from their paychecks for employee associations.

As president of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, I represent a majority of the professional firefighters in the state of Texas. More than half of our members are conservative, and we tend to support Republicans and others with pro-public safety records. Right now, for example, we are working with pro-public safety candidates in more than two dozen races around the state.

Texas firefighters believe Proposition 3 is an attempt to undermine the Republican Party and its ideals. Extremist special-interest groups are misleading voters about the proposition to advance their broader political agenda against firefighters and other public employees.

The extremists claim that association dues are deducted from public employee paychecks even if the employees are not members. This is false. Texas is a right-to-work state. No person can be forced to join an employee association or a union as a condition of employment. Public employees who are members of a union make that choice voluntarily.

Proposition 3 proponents further claim that payroll dues deduction is mandatory for all union members. This is false. Association or union members can choose to have payroll deduction of their dues and if so, must submit a signed request to their employer instructing them to do so. They may also cease that deduction at any time using the same process.

Proposition proponents also suggest that payroll deduction of association and union dues costs the taxpayers money. This is false. State law allows employers to pass on any costs associated with payroll deduction to the employee. The truth is, the cost is minimal because it requires just a few computer keyboard strokes — much like a 401(k) deduction. Some cities charge 5 cents per transaction. Political activists claim that dues deductions are somehow helping organize campaigns to unionize janitorial services in Houston. This is false — and it is a nonsensical red herring: we are a public sector fire fighter association and the janitorial association is a private sector group with no public safety purpose.

Texas firefighters fear this proposed governmental overreach could diminish the stability of our fire departments and associations.

From El Paso to Beaumont and Houston to Dallas, we are committed to providing excellent service, being good stewards of community resources and giving back in the communities we serve. Forexample, our association deductions go to helping ensure that we have the best protective gear and equipment and the safest work- ing conditions possible. Our dues also go to medical projects to research and find cures for a growing number of cancers that are unique to the fire service. We also provide support for families of firefighters from around the nation whose loved ones are treated at world-class facilities such as the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Our association dues also used to help recruit the best firefighter candidates available by making sure pay and benefits are competitive. Better, experienced firefighters provide value to their departments — and better stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Now that you know the truth, and the law, we ask voters in the Republican primary to maintain the status quo of limited government and vote no on Republican Party Platform Proposition 3.

Voting no lets hard-working firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public employees choose what they do with their paychecks — and it keeps Austin bureaucrats from unnecessarily interfering in our workplaces.