State legislators in Schuylkill County disagree on the proposed paycheck bills.
Legislation proposed in both the House and Senate want labor unions to collect dues, political contributions and fair share fees rather than deduct them from government employee paychecks. Fair share fees are for workers who decline union membership and usually cost about 80 percent of member dues.
Senate Bill 1034 and House Bill 1507 apply to only public sector unions and exclude policemen, firemen, corrections officers and EMTs.
The Republican-controlled county commissioners passed a resolution Wednesday encouraging Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly to pass the legislation. Gary J. Hess, the lone Democrat, voted against it.
Sen. David Argall, R-29, said several versions of the bill are under consideration.
"As always, my vote will depend on the final version placed in front of me, but I will note that I am sympathetic to the issue," Argall said Friday.
State Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, does not support the legislation.
"This is nothing more than the latest attack on collective bargaining rights and people's rights to join a union," Goodman said Friday. "I am not going to support any legislation that prevents them from doing either."
Goodman said the paycheck deductions are negotiated between employers and unions and the collection does not put additional costs on the taxpayers.
"I see this as nothing more than a budgetary distraction," Goodman said. "The bottom line is it doesn't cost the taxpayers a dime."
Goodman said the real issues in Harrisburg should be restoring funding to public education, job creation, putting a reasonable tax on Marcellus Shale and getting Pennsylvania out of its deficit.
"These are the things we should focus on. Improving. Not taking away the basic rights of working men and women," Goodman said. "This is a Republican movement to distract people from what is going on in Harrisburg in relation to the budget. This is not a new tactic."
State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, is a sponsor for the House bill.
"To me, it is just a no-brainer, taxpayers should not be forced to collect union fees and campaign money," Knowles said.
Knowles said that money should not be used for politics.
"It doesn't make Pennsylvania a right-to-work state, it doesn't prevent workers from joining unions, it doesn't prevent unions from engaging in politics and it doesn't affect the private sector union workers," Knowles said.
Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, was unable to be reached for comment Friday.
A copy of the county resolution will be posted online at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us.