Supreme Court Decision On Labor Unions Could Jeopardize Funding Pipeline To Progressive Initiatives
Unions tend to be big supporters of more liberal-leaning candidates and programs, both of which depend on the millions of dollars flowing in from the organizations. But that funding could be greatly diminished with the Supreme Court's ruling.
The New York Times:
Supreme Court Defeat For Unions Upends A Liberal Money Base
The Supreme Court decision striking down mandatory union fees for government workers was not only a blow to unions. It will also hit hard at a vast network of groups dedicated to advancing liberal policies and candidates. Some of these groups work for immigrants and civil rights; others produce economic research; still others turn out voters or run ads in Democratic campaigns. Together, they have benefited from tens of millions of dollars a year from public-sector unions — funding now in jeopardy because of the prospective decline in union revenue. (Scheiber, 7/1)
Meanwhile —
The New York Times:
How Conservatives Weaponized The First Amendment
On the final day of the Supreme Court term last week, Justice Elena Kagan sounded an alarm. The court’s five conservative members, citing the First Amendment, had just dealt public unions a devastating blow. The day before, the same majority had used the First Amendment to reject a California law requiring religiously oriented “crisis pregnancy centers” to provide women with information about abortion. Conservatives, said Justice Kagan, who is part of the court’s four-member liberal wing, were “weaponizing the First Amendment.” (Liptak, 6/30)