PA Senate Passes ‘Paycheck Protection’ Bill

National Federation of Independent Business • 225 State Street, Suite B • Harrisburg, PA 17101 • 717/232-8582 • Fax: 717/232-4098
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Suzanne Collins Stoltenberg, NFIB/PA Communications Director 717-232-8582 [email protected]

Government Should Not be a Pawn for Public Union Election Activities!
NFIB pleased with PA Senate vote in favor of "paycheck protection"

HARRISBURG (October 14, 2015) – The National Federation of Independent Business in Pennsylvania (NFIB), the largest small business association, applauded the state Senate today for passing a "paycheck protection" bill. The measure, sponsored by Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), would prevent the use of government resources for political purposes. If the bill passes, it would stop the current practice in which the state government collects funds through employee deductions that go to the public employee unions and are spent on political activities.

"Workers should be free to make their own decisions about the organizations and political candidates they support and pay directly out of their own pocket for any candidate they want to see elected," said Kevin Shivers, executive state director of NFIB/PA. "It’s just dead wrong for the state government, which is supported by tax dollars, to do the union’s bidding by collecting funds that, in turn, are used for political purposes."

"How can the voice of all taxpayers, including the small-business owners NFIB represents, be heard when the clout of public employee unions in elections has grown so huge due to this special advantage provided by state government? The state should not even be indirectly associated with the support of any candidate or cause over another," Shivers said. "We are grateful that the state Senate chose to move the state away from that dubious practice."

NFIB will be following the progress of Senate Bill 501 now as it moves to the state House for a vote.

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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.