Unions heavily outspent supporters to defeat 'right-to-work'

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Opponents heavily outspent supporters of a so-called right-to-work law overwhelmingly rejected by Missouri voters in the August primary elections.

New financial reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission show the opposition led by unions spent almost $17 million through a campaign committee called We Are Missouri and through independent expenditures.

By contrast, financial reports show supporters spent less than $5 million through four committees.

Missouri's Republican-led Legislature and governor enacted a law last year prohibiting mandatory union fees in workplaces. But labor unions gathered enough petition signatures to suspend its enforcement until a public referendum.

Voters rejected the law by 67 percent of the total vote.