Court to Weigh Deductions for Union PACs

At issue is Idaho bar on agencies’ withholding pay for political causes

An Idaho state law that bars school districts and other local government agencies from making deductions from employees’ paychecks for political causes will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last week, the court accepted the state’s appeal in Ysursa v. Pocatello Education Association (Case No. 07-869), in which Idaho is defending the federal constitutionality of a provision under its “right to work” laws. The provision, passed in 2003 under a measure known as the Voluntary Contributions Act , has been backed in Idaho and in other states by anti-union groups.

The action is the latest sign of renewed interest on the Supreme Court in legal issues surrounding public-employee unions, such as the rules about representation fees for workers who refuse to join the union. The court upheld a Washington state law last year that requires unions to secure the consent of nonmembers to use their representation fees on political activities. ( "High Court Upholds Wash. State Law on Union Fees," ...