In California there is an initiative trying to get the required number of signatures to make the November 2010 ballot.

The measure: Prohibit public unions (teacher unions included) from automatically deducting dues for political purposes from members' paychecks. If a public union wants to raise money for politics, it must ask for member donations.

For more information, go to the their website www.unplugthepoliticalmachine.org

My question is this: How many of you would support such a measure if it was presented on your state's ballot?

I actually support the measure. Californian teachers are forced to be in the union whether or not we like it.

About 95% of what the California Teachers Association promotes politically runs head on against my conservative values.

I am so angered that my dues are spent on nonsense.

Furthermore, since we are tax payer funded, indirectly the tax payers are forcefully funding a union that dips into politics. My paycheck ends up as a doorway from the public to the union controlled political anti-Republican machine.

Use my dues to protect the teachers from unfair administrative actions, do not force us to pay for a liberal agenda.

If teachers want to optionally contribute to the union political cause, they may, but for those who don't, why force us?

That seems unconstitutional.

JohnO:  Would have liked to have said the same about Washington, but turns out I'm wrong.  Last election cycle, we transferred $300,000 from union dues to political action funds.  Caused something of a furor here, both inside and outside the union.  

We have payroll deduction for union dues and for voluntary political contributions to our pac fund.  There doesn't seem to be much concern about having to face this problem here, even though I warned them it might be coming.  

We have, however, been establishing alternative methods of funding that would continue to allow monthly contributions to our pac fund from other sources; e.g. credit cards or checking accounts.

Suffice it to say, there will be alternatives in place, should this problem crop up in Washington.