The House spent less than an hour Thursday debating legislation that would bar governments from collecting union dues through payroll deductions.
Republicans also shot down, on a voice vote, an amendment that would have led to the entire law being struck down if any part of it were found to be unconstitutional.
Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary and sponsor of the proposal, said the measure would remove the state from any role in unions’ more controversial activities.
“There is a clear public interest in avoiding the appearance of government being involved in partisan politics,” Dorworth said.
But Democrats said the measure was instead an attempt at “union-busting” that could get tangled up in the courts.
“This is really like the No Lawyer Left Behind Act,” quipped Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando.
Democrats questioned why unions were the only target of the legislation.
“It seems as though the bill’s a little narrow in its scope,” said Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami.
Dorworth countered that the union dues were collected by the state, while most other dues were not.
A final vote is expected Friday.
The News Service of Florida
