Woot! Paycheck deception, picket restrictions ruled unconstitutional in Ariz.

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Call it <="http://www.alecexposed.org/">ALEC overreach.

A federal judge ruled earlier this week that two anti-worker laws in Arizona are unconstitutional. One restricts picketing, which the judge ruled infringes on the right of free speech. The other forbids some employers from honoring employees' requests to have their union dues deducted from their paychecks (also known as paycheck deception). That violates the right to equal protection under the law, the judge found.

Both of these laws are linked to ALEC, the escort service for corporations and state lawmakers that's supported by the<="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/10/bombshell-kochs-sold-oil-equipment-to.html"> Benedict Arnold Koch brothers. Paycheck deception and picketing restrictions have been introduced in other states. The Missouri Legislature, for example, is moving a<="http://blog.workingamerica.org/2013/03/15/10-things-you-should-know-about-paycheck-deception/"> paycheck deception bill that Gov. Jay Nixon is expected to veto. Georgia's Legislature<="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2012/03/woo-hoo-sb-469-killed-in-ga.html"> tried to pass a restriction on picketing last year, but failed.

Efforts to roll back ALEC-inspired anti-worker bills are succeeding in other states for the same reasons cited by the judge in Arizona. Wisconsin<="http://cognidissidence.blogspot.com/2013/03/scott-walkers-austerity-agenda-is-real.html"> Job-killer Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting Act 10 has been partially struck down (for now at least) on the grounds of free speech and equal protection under the law.<="http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2013/04/new_right_to_work_frantz.html"> Legal questions are being raised about equal protection under Michigan's No Rights At Work law because it doesn't affect all employees.

<="http://politics.kfyi.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=118695&article=11140610#ixzz2PP88Q7c9">KFYI News tells us more about the Arizona cases:

Senate Bill 1365 required employee consent before their employer could deduct money from their paychecks for "political purposes" including lobbying. Judge Murray Snow found the law was unconstitutional because it exempted public safety unions, which the bill's sponsor, former Republican Sen. Frank Antenori, said he had done because public safety unions told him they operate differently from most other unions. 

SB 1365 never took effect because it was put on hold due to the lawsuit against it.  The other measure, SB 1363, limited picketing by striking workers.  Judge Snow ruled that the law limited free speech. 

According to a Pennsylvania brother, these Koch-sponsored anti-worker laws aren't just unconstitutional. They're <="http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/opinion/guest/sinful-and-evil-legislation-is-un-american-at-its-core/article_3d0151eb-19fb-5c9c-940d-c8b4726f3a98.html">sinful and evil.

We're inclined to agree.