Amendment 49 -- Allowable Government Paycheck Deductions

This ballot measure lists the allowable payroll deductions for any employee hired by the state or its political subdivisions. Many standard and legally required deductions are listed, but labor union dues are noticeably absent.

Unwarranted CONSTITUTIONAL change -- ADDS Article XXX

Recommendation: NO
This proposed constitutional amendment is more extreme than the “Ask First” measures that have been on ballots in some Colorado communities. Under “Ask First” an employer must have advance authorization before deducting union dues from a paycheck. Under this initiative state and local government employees would be prohibited from having their union dues and other professional organization fees deducted from their paycheck. Just as many people sign up for automatic billing, the automatic payroll deduction is a convenience (which people have the option to cancel), and this proposal wants to forbid a convenience through a constitutional amendment! This initiative would affect teachers, firefighters, police and other state and local public employees.


Website for Yes side (Ethical Standards Now)
http://www.ethicalstandardsnow.org/

Website for No side (Protect Colorado’s Future)
No initiative-specific website found, but some info at website below.
http://www.protectcoloradosfuture.org/


Amendment 49 (Approved ballot title below)

Allowable Government Paycheck Deductions

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning deductions from governmental payroll systems, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting a governmental payroll system from payroll deduction from any government employee except deductions required by federal law, tax withholdings, judicial liens and garnishments, deductions for individual or group health benefits or other deductions for pension or retirement plans or systems, or other savings or investment programs, charitable deductions?

Yes ________________ No ________________


To see the full text of the proposed measure, click here, then click on “2008 State Ballot Information Booklet” at the top of the page.