Missouri House passes limits on union fees in paychecks

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House passed legislation Thursday requiring public employees to give annual, written permission for union dues to be withheld from their paychecks, though the measure would exempt first responders such as police and firefighters.

House lawmakers approved the bill with a vote of 110-47, exceeding the 109 votes necessary to override any veto from Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon, who has vetoed similar legislation.

"We clearly now have the votes and are prepared to override his veto," House Speaker Todd Richardson said. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Rep. Holly Rehder, the Sikeston Republican who sponsored the bill, said the measure would make unions more accountable to their members.

"It makes a union leader provide a service to the worker," she said.

Opponents of the legislation say it's an effort to weaken unions, rather than something workers want.

Teachers already can cancel their dues any time they want, and this legislation simply complicates the process, said Otto Fajen, legislative director of the Missouri National Education Association.