Missouri Republicans support labor unions deducting from payroll to contribute to political campaigns

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2/ 8/2011: Radio Story - Missouri contractors and labor unions squared off Senate Committee hearing to decide whether employees will have the choice to pay union dues.

Intro:	Missouri Democrats oppose legislation that they say is an attack on the state's labor unions.
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Wrap: The Missouri House endorsed a bill that would require workers to give approval to unions to take fees from their paychecks for political contributions.

Sponsoring Republican Representative Eric Burlison says the measure is aimed at protecting individual workers.

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Description: "We want to insure that that money that is being used is used for the purposes that it is intended, and that any of the money that is going to go towards political campaigns, that that individual disagrees with, they have the right to express that opinion"

Early this week, the Senate gave first round approval to a similar bill that would require workers to give consent to their employers to take money from their paychecks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ellie Coatar

Intro:	Missouri Republicans are pushing a bill that opponents say would strip labor unions of their power.
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Wrap: The Missouri House gave first round approval to a measure that would allow labor unions to take money from their employees' paychecks for political contributions.

Democrats like Representative Mike Colona oppose the proposal, saying it is a direct attack on labor unions.

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Description: "The only reason that we can think that folks on that side of the aisle would want to do something like this is to take the wind out of the sails of organized labor and make them a non-player in Missouri politics."

Earlier this week in the Senate, lawmakers gave first round approval to similar legislation that would require employers to get approval from workers before taking out any money from paychecks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ellie Coatar

Intro:	Democrats say a measure endorsed by the Missouri House is an attack on labor unions.
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OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The Missouri House gave preliminary approval to legislation that would require unions to get consent from workers to take fees from their paychecks for political contributions. Republican supporters say it would protects individual workers.

Democrats like Representative Jeff Roorda oppose the measure, and say it is an attack on labor unions.

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Description: "I'm a member of the fraternal order of police, and a proud one, and I take offense to the nonsense that we're dealing with on the floor. The attack on heroes, the war on heroes that you are the general of, gentleman."

Earlier this week, the Senate gave first round approval to similar legislation that would require workers to sign off on their employers taking any funds from their paychecks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Ellie Coatar.