House Republicans have advanced another piece of their labor reform agenda, sending to the Senate legislation they call “paycheck protection.” Democrats decry the bill as an attack on unions, calling it “paycheck deception.”

House Bill 251 would bar the automatic deduction of union dues and fees from a public employee’s paycheck without that employee’s annual, written consent. It also specifies that information on how such deductions are used must be available to employees.
St. Louis Democrat Doug Beck said the bill is an attempt to take away the voice of middle class workers.
Bill sponsor Jered Taylor (R-Nixa) rejected the argument that the bill is an attack on workers.
The legislation was sent to the Senate on a 95-60 vote.
House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) said his supermajority will continue working on labor reform legislation that Republicans believe will improve Missouri’s business climate and bring more jobs to the state. The next such issue the House will debate will be project labor agreements.