may 2020 LL pages by Freedom Foundation

Five forgery suits in three states filed in one day......

Freedom Foundation uncovers union slush fund ....

Judge denies motion to stay lifeguards’ lawsuit .....

MAY 2020

LIVING LIBERTY A Publication of the Freedom Foundation

Seattle income tax plan Killed by the Freedom Foundation April 3, 2020

Busy Freedom Foundation kills union-backed plan for income tax in Seattle, then rest of state

Electronic Service Requested

Freedom Foundation PO Box 552 Olympia, WA 98507

fter nearly three years of litigation, the city of Seattle’s illegal, unconstitutional income tax scheme is dead — and it was the Freedom Foundation that delivered the kill shot. The Washington State Supreme Court on April 3 put an end to the City Council’s class-warfare ordinance that sought to impose a 2.25 percent tax on city residents who earn an annual income exceeding $250,000. Despite warnings from the Freedom Foundation and others that the tax violated state law and the state constitution, the councilmembers unanimously passed the ordinance in July 2017. In a press release announcing the measure, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes defended the ordinance’s legality, claiming the city had “assembled an outstanding legal team to craft the best legislation possible and defend it.” But even the “best possible” legal team can’t be expected to do the impossible, and persuading anyone with a room temperature IQ that the Washington State Constitution doesn’t say what it does about an income tax is impossible. Because it most certainly does, and it’s

By JEFF RHODES Managing Editor

been that way for 100 years. The Freedom Foundation, representing 17 Seattle residents who would have been affected by the proposed tax had it eventually been enacted, filed suit on Aug. 9, 2017. And subsequent lawsuits filed by Opportunity for All, on behalf of five Seattle residents, and the Pacific Legal Foundation, on behalf of four plaintiffs, were eventually consolidated into a single case. In November 2017, King County Superior Court Judge John Ruhl struck down the city’s income tax, finding it had no authority under state law to implement such a tax. Unfazed, the city attempted to appeal the ruling directly to the Washington State Supreme Court, which it hoped would reverse numerous previous decisions that classify income as property and, under Article VII of the state constitution, that it must be taxed at a “uniform” rate. The ruling was a significant victory for Washington taxpayers, who have enough on their plate these days without having to worry about opportunistic leftists sneaking a statewide income tax measure under the radar — as they surely intended to do if the court had allowed Seattle’s trial balloon. The Supreme Court denied the city’s request for direct review and the case proceeded to the Division I Court of Appeals. In July 2019, the Court of Appeals held that the state law banning local income taxes, RCW 36.65.030, was passed in an unconstitutional manner and found that cities did have statutory authority to enact See INCOME TAX Page 11

VOLUME 31, ISSUE 4

Our mission is to advance individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited, accountable government.

Publisher: Tom McCabe Editor: Jeff Rhodes

CONTACT Freedom Foundation PO Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507

(360) 956-3482 FreedomFoundation.com

“Quote” ~ of the month ~

[2 ]

LIVING LIBERTY

A PUBL ICAT ION O F THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION

CONTENTS PAGE 3

PAGE 4

THE CASE FOR FREEDOM

LEADERSHIP MEMO

By JEFF RHODES Freedom Foundation files five forgery lawsuits in three states, all in the same day.

By TOM McCABE Even in quaratine, we’re the busiest freedom fighters in the business.

PAGE 5

THE CASE FOR FREEDOM

Hang on! I’ll save you! By the Way, is that a dollar in your pocket?

By JASON DUDASH Freedom Foundation lawsuit exposes unions’ little-known political slush fund.

Reprinted from GONGWER Ohio Unions outraged by proposal that they suspend dues collections during pandemic.

Reprinted from the WASHINGTON TIMES Unions accused of faking workers’ signatures on membership cards.

What They Said & What They Meant

PAGES 6 & 7

Open Business for

The Freedom Foundation isn’t letting a little thing like a global pandemic keep us from our “essential” duties.

PAGE 8

OREGON UPDATE “The decision to move forward with this proposed rule is just another in a series of activist steps the Authority has taken to advance this administration’s goal of busting unions and making it even harder for rank-and-file federal employees to speak up, defend their rights, and serve the American people.”

EVERETT KELLY , National president, American Federation of Government Employees Public statement in response to a new regulation proposed by the Federal Labor Relations Authority thet would extend provisions of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME to federal employees, allowing them to opt out of union bondage as easily as their counterparts in state and local government. March 18, 2020

Nothing in this publication should be construed as an attempt to aid or hinder the election of any elected official or candidate.

By JASON DUDASH Our Oregon: A PAC by any other name. By JASON DUDASH & MIKE NEARMAN Reprinted from the SALEM BUSINESS JOURNAL Why are union exempt from making sacrifices?

PAGE 9

SPOTLIGHT ON CALIFORNIA By JEFF RHODES Judge denies unions’ motion to put lifeguard lawsuit on hold. By BOB WICKERS Reprinted from the CALIFORNIA GLOBE Temporary suspension of public-sector union dues collection is an idea whose time has come.

PAGE 10

FREEDOM IN ACTION

By AARON WITHE Reprinted from REDSTATE Nation’s governors must take action now to mitigate effects of ongoing economic shutdown.

PAGE 11

FREEDOM IN THE NEWS

Freedom Foundation’s Friends, Foes Weigh in On Our Actions.

PAGE 12

ACTION TIMELINE

A PUBL ICAT ION OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION

Even in quarantine, we’re the busiest freedom fighters around

f there’s a silver lining in all the “social distancing” we’re required to do amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that we’re picking up the phone more, emailing friends who haven’t heard from us in a bit too long and finding new ways to connect with those who matter to us. In that spirit, I wanted you to know just how much your support and friendship matter to me. I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy during this unsettling time. The government-imposed shutdown of our economy has put a tremendous strain on all of us. But if anything, the Freedom Foundation needs to be more vigilant that ever during the imposed quarantine because our union adversaries have shown once again they subscribe wholeheartedly to the liberal maxim about never squandering the opportunity to profit from the misfortune of others. The Freedom Foundation hasn’t slowed its pace at all — nor will it. I continue to press our awesome team to take action. My motto is “Keep moving forward.” To illustrate the point, here’s a quick overview of some of what we’ve accomplished in just the past month. Does this sound like an organization that’s taking it easy?  Forgery Cases Against Government Unions As is chronicled on page 4 of this newsletter, in early April we filed six separate lawsuits against government unions, including five where they were caught red-handed forging the signatures of workers onto membership cards in order to continue collecting dues payments from people who don’t share the union’s ideals and only wish to be left alone. We’re now up to 12 forgery cases and expect to file more in the next few weeks. The Washington Times reported about these lawsuits, and its story is also reprinted on page 4.  Request to Stop Collection of Union Dues. The Freedom Foundation made formal requests of the governors of Washington, Oregon, California, Ohio and Pennsylvania to stop collecting dues from paychecks of government employees for three months. With small businesses and workers absorbing the brunt of the shutdown, it seems only fair that government unions do their part, as well. This proposal would put more than $464 million back into the pockets of the workers who earned it in these five states. The media have already begun to pick up the story, and I fully expect the pressure to be ratcheted up in the coming weeks as it becomes clear that, while the rest of the country makes heroic sacrifices, public-sector unions have every intention of exploiting a national emergency in order to recoup some of what the Freedom Foundation has cost them in membership and revenue during the past few years..  Victory in Seattle Income Tax Case The Freedom Foundation scored a huge victory in the

MEMO

Seattle income tax case this month when the Washington State Supreme Court slapped By TOM McCABE, CEO down the city’s bid to impose income on the city’s biggest job-producers. Representing a number of Seattle plaintiffs, this organization joined other groups in filing a separate lawsuit against the city of Seattle. Lower courts had determined the tax was unconstitutional, but the city and progressive groups appealed the decision to the Supremes. The state’s high court declined to hear the case, foiling progressive efforts to pave the way for a future statewide income tax.  Governor Declares the Freedom Foundation Essential. As you might have expected, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee had no qualms about issuing a blanket order shutting down thousands of the state’s struggling small businesses. But when it came to his friends at SEIU, WFSE, the teacher’s groups and other public-sector labor unions, he couldn’t bear the thought of them not continuing to confiscate dues from government employees — including many still collecting paychecks even though they’re at home rather than working. Consequently, the governor carved out an exemption in his stay-home order for “unions and worker advocates.” What he couldn’t have anticipated was that his decree also classified the Freedom Foundation — unquestionably the state’s premier advocate for worker liberty — as an essential enterprise and allowed us to continue our while so many others are quarantined at home. So we wrote to Inslee demanding clarification and, shockingly, his staff agreed. “After reviewing your request,” they responded, “we have determined that your function qualifies as essential.” It’s something we knew all along, but who knew he knew? The bottom line is, we’re not going to stop fighting big government unions. The Freedom Foundation has made enormous gains in the past few years and, to paraphrase Gen. George S. Patton, “I don’t like to pay for the same real estate twice.” I can assure you it won’t happen on my watch.

“

LEADERSHIP

LIVING LIBERTY

The Freedom Foundation hasn’t slowed its pace at all — nor will it. I continue to press our awesome team to take action. My motto is ‘Keep Moving Forward.’

”

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THE CASE FOR FREEDOM

Freedom Foundation files five forgery lawsuits in three states in one day

reaking the law once might be excusable, but breaking the same one a second time is clear evidence of contempt for authority. So imagine what it says about government employee unions on the West Coast that the Freedom Foundation has identified at least 17 cases where someone in the union forged a worker’s name to authorize the union to deduct dues or political contributions from his or her paycheck. In fact, the organization on March 31 filed federal lawsuits on behalf of five separate public employees in Washington, Oregon and California alleging their union not only created false documents but cited those same documents to justify keeping the workers — and their dues dollars — in the union. “This isn’t an accounting error or an honest mistake,” said Eric Stahlfeld, the Freedom Foundation’s chief litigation counsel. “This looks like a pattern of criminal behavior. Unions evidently have learned to do business this way because for generations no one ever stood up to them.” The pendulum began to swing back in the workers’ favor in 2018, he said, when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Janus v. AFSCME, ruled that forcing public employees to join or pay dues to a union was a violation of his or her First Amendment rights. On paper, the decision cleared the way for every government employee in the country to opt out of union participation without penalty. In practice, however, the unions have fought tenaciously — even to the point of forgery — to discourage and prevent defections that could mean millions in lost dues revenue. The five cases filed on Monday have different nuances, but at their core, the unifying theme is union fraud and hubris. The cases include: n Semerjyan v. SEIU 2015: Ms. Semerjyan has provided homecare since 2003 in Los Angeles County. The union from the very beginning deducted dues from her paycheck. Because the union never solicited her membership and automatically deducted dues, she reasonably believed the deductions were mandatory until learning otherwise in September 2019. She sent an opt out letter in October and the Union responded via letter saying she signed a membership card and couldn’t leave until March. She quickly called the union who told her she had a membership card on file. When the union sent her the copy, she quickly recognized it was forged. SEIU 2015 has denied the forgery and then compounded the falsehood by claiming her husband may have signed it for her. n Hubbard v. SEIU 2015. Ms. Hubbard is also a homecare provider and works in Sacramento County. She, too, learned in late 2018 she didn’t have to pay dues, and eventually figured out how to submit an opt-out request in January 2019. The union responded saying she couldn’t leave until her opt-out window on her purported membership card signed in November 2018. Despite multiple requests throughout 2019 for a copy of this “membership card” the Union did not provide anything until December 2019.

By JEFF RHODES, Managing Editor

It turns out this “card” is electronic, but the IP address on the union’s electronic form is different than the IP address on the computer which she would have used had she been the person completing the form online. n Gatdula v. SEIU 775. The plaintiff has been a home-based caregiver in Washington State compensated through Medicaid since 2014. She never signed a union membership card but has, however, paid dues through October 2019. To do so, the union violated plaintiff’s rights in multiple ways using multiple tactics. When she refused to become a union member under pressure after she became a caregiver in early 2014, the union called her again in July 2014 and used deceptive tactics to obtain her verbal ‘consent’ to pay union dues by burying commitment language in legalese and deliberately minimizing the purpose of the call. This tactic was deceitful and blatantly illegal under state law, which required written authorizations for union dues. In 2019, SEIU 775 resorted to false tactics again, to obtain more money from her. They falsified plaintiff’s electronic signature on a union dues card and used this to extract not only dues, but this time political contributions, from her wages. n Cash Schiewe v. SEIU 503. The plaintiff is an Oregon public employee who lives in Clackamas County and works for the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. For most of her career she chose not to be a union member, instead choosing to pay so-called agency fees. When those fees were abolished under Janus, she contacted SEIU 503 to ask about the status of fee payments. A union representative told her the court ruling meant she now had to join the union. When she later learned the truth, she confronted the union only to be told she had signed an electronic membership form — but the form SEIU 503 produced does not contain her signature — and does not contain accurate metadata that would establish a valid electronic signature. n Wright v. SEIU 503. The plaintiff is a public employee who works for the Oregon Health Authority. SEIU 503 claims she signed an authorization for dues deductions in October 2017 on an iPad — but the employee disagrees, having no recollection of signing up for union membership. When asked for supporting evidence, SEIU 503 could not produce data to confirm the signature, but nonetheless continued to enforce it to take union dues. “These individual employees are completely unrelated but, taken collectively, they demonstrate a pattern or practice of the union cutting corners in a desperate attempt to retain members,” Stahlfeld said. “When

Unions accused of faking signatures on membership cards Reprinted from the Washington Times April 2, 2020 A series of federal class-action lawsuits in Western states accuse state employee unions of faking signatures to maintain membership and dues. The latest legal challenges hit Service Employees International Union chapters in California, Oregon and Washington state with allegations they cooked the books to inflate membership numbers.

“This isn’t an accounting error or an honest mistake,” said Eric Stahlfeld, chief litigator for Freedom Foundation, the free-market conservative think tank that brought the lawsuits on behalf of individual state workers. Stahlfeld described the alleged union conduct as “a pattern of criminal behavior.” “These individual employees are completely unrelated,” he said, “but taken collectively, they demonstrate a pattern or practice of the union cutting corners in a desperate attempt to retain members.” The latest court action bring the total number of class-action lawsuits against SEIU chapters to 12 since 2019. The repetitive nature of bogus signatures across states and months constitutes a disturbing institutional pattern, according to the foundation. Lawyers in San Francisco representing some of the SEIU chapters and the chapters themselves refused to comment on the lawsuits. In most of the lawsuits, the public employees say they never electronically signed the documents the union says show their membership. Time and date stamps, as well as IP addresses, back up those claims, said Freedom Foundation attorney Rebekah Millard. In one of the suits, Semerjyan v. SEIU 2015 in California, the defendant said the card the union sent her was clearly a forged signature. Asked how confident they were the employees hadn’t signed electronically by mistake or had forgotten doing so, Millard replied: “We filed a lawsuit about it.” the Supreme Court in Janus affirmed the right of public employees to opt out of union participation, it didn’t mean they could only do so under strict guidelines drawn up by the union. And it certainly didn’t give the unions permission to engage in fraud to regain what Janus took away. “This is much bigger than criminal acts,” he said. “This is unions tolerating, ignoring and maybe even encouraging a system of incentives or a work environment that results in cheating. The state never verifies that the employees really want their lawfully earned wages diverted into union coffers. This practice is despicable, and it’s up to the legal system to sanction those involved appropriately.”

LIVING LIBERTY

A PUBL ICAT ION OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION

THE CASE FOR FREEDOM

Federal lawsuit exposes unions’ little-known political slush fund

he sound of squealing you hear is public-sector unions — and, by extension, By JASON DUDASH, the politicians they buy and sell — being Oregon Director weaned off the teat of worker dues money. Despite a series of court rulings dating back nearly 45 years that ban the practice, too many government employees still mistakenly believe members they have a constitutional right to they have no choice but to allow their union to opt out of all dues and fees,” said Rebekah Miluse a portion of their dues money for political aclard, litigation counsel for the Freedom Fountivities if they wish to keep their jobs. dation, a nonprofit policy organization that Or worse, they don’t even specializes in informing know their hard-earned doland assisting government lars are spent in support of employees who don’t want candidates and causes they to support union activities. oppose. “If it fails to do so, their But it isn’t just dues. membership agreement is In April, the Freedom nullified,” she said. “None of Foundation filed a federal the plaintiffs was even told Hang on! class-action lawsuit at the why the union was taking I’ll save you! U.S. District Court in Port$2.75 out of every check, let land on behalf of 10 current alone that they had the powor former Oregon public emer to stop it.” By the Way, ployees alleging their union, Millard said the suit is that a dollar calls SEIU 503, systematically for reimbursement of in your pocket? all fees illegally taken from withheld an additional $2.75 from each paycheck to build the plaintiffs, in addition up a political slush fund. to a declaratory judgment The charge, which the conceding the deductions union describes as an “issues were improper and an assessment,” is separate injunction to prevent the from regular dues payments union from continuing the and has shown up since at practice. least 1998 only as a small “Workers expect their line item on the employee’s union to devote its resources pay stub. to advocating for better pay, benefits and workFew ever question what the deduction is used ing conditions, not playing politics,” Millard said. for and no one has ever authorized it. “And the court precedent that spells out the The union simply takes the money — in clear rules for how dues money must be spent doesn’t violation of several landmark U.S. Supreme make an exception for fees the member isn’t Court rulings. aware he or she is paying and has no power to “SEIU 503 has a responsibility to inform its stop.”

Unions outraged by proposal that they suspend dues while pandemic continues

ne group has an idea to pump tens of millions of dollars into the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s not sitting well with the organizations that would be most affected. In a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine, the Freedom Foundation called on him to place a three month moratorium on public sector union dues. The group claims that would pump $61 million back into Ohio’s struggling economy that has largely shuttered because of the COVID-19 public health crisis. The organization painted its proposal as an economic stimulus at no cost to Ohio taxpayers. “Presently, tens of thousands of Ohioans are being forced to stay home from work. This includes huge swaths of our devoted public employees, most of whom are still fortunate enough to still be collecting a paycheck — short of the portion government unions continue to take for themselves. The private sector, however, is not so lucky,” Lindsey Queen, state director of the organization, wrote in the letter. “As you are well aware, small businesses across our state are being forced to close their doors, unsure when — or if — they will be able to open them again. This means temporary furloughs, semi-permanent or permanent layoffs and a skyrocketing number of new unemployment filings.” But public-sector unions blasted the recommendation. Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper accused the group of “trying to grab a headline” during the crisis to further its antiunion goals. “They’re union busters who are looking

What They

What They What she said: “(The Freedom Foundation) isn’t about “freedom” at all. If you check out … locations where they’ve broken union strength, you’ll find lower wages, damned few benefits and worker protections, as well as higher MARY L. STEWART work-related Eugene, Ore. death rates.” Facebook post, April 4, 2020 What she meant: “If informing workers

of their Constitutional right to make up their own minds about workplace representation can break the unions’ strength, maybe the unions were never entitled to be that strong in the first place. ” n n n She said: “The anti-worker Freedom Foundation has infiltrated our state agencies. The prison system. Labor and Industries. Healthcare agencies and nurses’ unions. They have to be stopped. Your job is next. Don’t fall for their anti-tax campaign.” SANDY BURNETT Tumwater, Wash. Facebook post, April 4, 2020

for every opportunity to bust a union,” she said. Ms. Cropper said unions have been “very active” during the pandemic in responding to their members’ needs. Anthony Caldwell, director of public affairs at the Service Employees International Union District 1199, was even more pointed in his response. He called the recommendation “disgusting” and said it comes from “a failed, out-of-state special interest group” looking to exploit a global pandemic. “Hospital and homecare workers, nurses, library workers, parole officers, educators, public employees and private-sector workers,” Caldwell said, “are united in our efforts to stop the spread of this virus and ensure that all working families are safe, healthy and able to thrive in our community. “In contrast,” he continued. “the Freedom Foundation is pushing an anti-worker agenda that’s out-of-step with Ohio values. They are funded by billionaires who want to destroy unions and elect candidates that will keep wages low, eliminate paid sick leave, and slash crucial funding for quality public services.” “Rather than trying to divide people, all of us must work together to ensure everyone has equal access to prevention, testing, treatment, and economic support regardless of how old they are, the color of the

What she meant: “By ‘infiltrated,’ I mean getting its message heard in spite of the unions’ campaign of terrorism to stifle it. And the Freedom Foundation has to be stopped because my whole way of life depends on someone else surrendering their freedom of speech.” n n n What she said: “How can the Freedom Foundation be stopped or halted in their ongoing atempts at defeating labor? Lawsuits?” What she meant: “The Freedom Foundation could be put ROBIN WALKER out of business Lompoc, Calif. Facebook post tomorrow. All it would take is March 26, 2020 unions agreeing to comply with the terms of Janus v. AFSCME and start respecting the rights of workers who just want to be left alone to do their jobs. Unfortunately, that would also mean the end of unions, which can only exist by confiscating dues through force or intimidation.”

LIVING LIBERTY

A P U B LICAT ION O F T HE FR EED OM FOUNDAT ION

Freedom Foundation calls for three-month hold on union dues By KEVIN MOONEY Reprinted from the DAILY SIGNAL

April 1, 2020 f elected officials were to suspend

the deduction of union dues from the paychecks of public-sector employees for three months, they could pump tens of millions of dollars back into the wallets of workers who are compelled to stay home, according to a free market think tank’s analysis of government records. The savings would be particularly dramatic in California, which has more than 1.25 million public employees, the Freedom Foundation explained in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. The letter notes that California’s public employees pay an average of $800 a year in dues. A three-month moratorium on deduction of government union dues “would pump $250 million back into the pockets of workers who earned them and need them during this emergency,” Bob Wickers, California director for the Freedom Foundation, said in the letter to Newsom. “The best part is you could boost our state’s economy by nearly $250 million without costing California taxpayers a dime,” he wrote. The Freedom Foundation also sent letters to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, asking them to consider the three-month moratorium on deducting union dues. DeWine is a Republican; the other governors are Democrats. Newsom issued a statewide stayat-home order March 19 in response to COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. Newsom’s order exempts some critical infrastructure projects and government services. With tens of thousands of California residents, including public employees, told to stay at home, a temporary moratorium on deducting union dues could have significant economic benefits, Wickers told The Daily Signal in a phone interview. “The dollars add up pretty quickly here in California in terms of what can be injected back into the economy,” Wickers said, adding:’

ment from the media offices of the unions, but none responded by publication time. “Our elected officials have a great opportunity here to take immediate action that would help a lot of people in need,” Tom McCabe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation, said in a press release, adding:

Above: The signout board in the lobby of the Freedom Foundation’s Olympia office shows lots of staffers working from home during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t still producing at the same rate we always have. Below: Meetings may have to be conducted online for a while, but we’re still actively making life miserable for our adversaries in government employee unions.

“Hardworking Americans need the money more than the unions do. Small businesses and working families are hurting. Wealthy government unions can do their part by temporarily forgoing the dues deductions so people can keep more of their own money, spend it in the private sector and get our economy rolling again.” The Freedom Foundation estimates that suspending the collection of union dues for three months would save public employees about $61 million in Ohio, $29 million in Oregon, $63 million in Pennsylvania, and $60 million in Washington. In Ohio, public-sector unions responded to the proposed suspension of union dues in a report posted by Gongwer, a news service that covers state government in Michigan and Ohio. Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, is quoted describing the Freedom Foundation as “union busters” who are “trying to grab a headline” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anthony Caldwell, director of public affairs for SEIU District 1199, said the Freedom Foundation “is pushing an anti-worker agenda that’s out of step with Ohio values.” But Wickers, the foundation’s California director, said unions are well positioned to absorb a temporary loss of revenue that would benefit the very people they say they represent. He points to financial records of the state’s five largest public-sector unions that show they maintain roughly 45 percent of their yearly income in cash reserves: “Unions are flush with cash and they are in better economic shape than most small businesses. Therefore, they should be able to make the sacrifice. Union organizing and political advocacy are not essential businesses. There is an opportunity here for them to row in the same direction everyone else is rowing in and this action would come at no additional cost to taxpayers.”

The (state) government withholds the dollars from the paychecks and then hands them over to a private corporation that’s called a union. Doing this for just three months puts $250 million back into the economy. This is a great way for government officials to do their part and for unions to do their part during the crisis.

“Gov. Newsom must order this suspension. The unions will not do this voluntarily,” Wickers told The Daily Signal, adding:

Wickers said he had not received a response from Newsom to his letter and the Freedom Foundation’s request for a three-month moratorium on deducting union dues. Wickers also said he hasn’t received a response from public-sector unions in California. The Daily Signal also sought com-

“In fact, a private hospitality union here in California just refused their membership’s request to suspend dues after they were all furloughed during this pandemic. There’s precedent for the union’s refusing to do this voluntarily and the need for this to be a Gov. Newsom declaration under the Emergency Services Act of California.”

Outreach efforts mo

hile businesses and workers alike are being hit by the health and economic effects of the Corona Virus the Freedom Foundation is adapting to this new reality. In conjunction with the federal government’s guidelines on social distancing Freedom Foundations canvassers have pivoted from visiting workers at their homes and offices to

now informing through phone saging. Public employ are still unawar out of their unio union dues. It is dom Foundation that we do not r aware of these r

LIVING LIBERTY

Open Business A PUBL ICAT ION OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION

for

Lawmakers exploit virus emergency to help their union allies

n auto racing, it’s against the rules to improve your position when a yellow flag is flying because of a dangerous situation on the track. These days, the entire nation is flying under a yellow flag and the unions are trying to move up. Apparently, they know nothing about racing and even less about rules. By ASHLEY VARNER, VP for Communications

The political gamesmanship engaged in by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during in late March to block the Coronavirus relief bill until it could be larded down with freebies for their union friends is unconscionable. Among the goodies included in the “stimulus” package is wording that would ease collective bargaining regulations for government employee unions. This has nothing to do with anything except lining the pockets of union leaders and the politicians they buy and sell with the dues of unionized government workers. At a time when many Americans have been told they can’t come to work and many don’t know how much longer they’ll have a paycheck, wealthy politicians in Washington, D.C., are exploiting a needed relief package in order to satisfy their public union masters. Our political leaders have repeatedly stressed the current emergency will require sacrifices from everyone. It’s time they understood “everyone” includes their friends and political allies, too, not just those they consider “nonessential.”

odified, but our message being heard loud and clear workers of their rights banking and text mes-

yees across the country re of their rights to opt ons and cease paying s at the core of the Freen’s mission to ensure rest until people are rights.

By AARON WITHE, National Director

Our calling and texting campaigns are just a couple of newer tools in our arsenal to give people this information. Our mail, e-mail, social media, bill-

boards, and radio campaigns continue to be rolled out as well. Overall the response from people has been overwhelmingly positive as most public employees could use a boost in their income at a time where a lot of their spouses in the private sector may be being laid off or having their hours reduced. Of course, unions continue to be re-

luctant to allow people to actually put this money back in their pockets due to their “window-scheme,” that restricts their ability to opt out of paying union dues. All of this would be a moot point if state governors would cease the states deduction of union dues as the Freedom Foundation urged them to do just a couple of weeks ago.

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A P U BL IC AT I ON OF T HE FREEDOM FOUNDAT I ON

Our Oregon: A PAC by any other name

ne Oregon, a political committee fronting for a coalition of ultra-liberal agencies and organizations, is the subject of a complaint alleging it failed to follow the state’s financial disclosure requirements. The complaint, filed on April 13 with the Oregon State Secretary of State’s Office, notes that, “On at least nine separate occasions during the year 2020, and for many years prior, Our Oregon has operated as a political committee without filing a statement of organization with the Secretary of State as required by (state law.). Filed by the Oregon office of the Freedom Foundation, a national public policy organization specializing in the abuses of government employee unions, the action explains that, “As an unregistered political committee, Our Oregon has also failed to comply with the other provisions of (regulations) governing the conduct and reporting requirements of political committees.” One incident like this is a mistake.

By JASON DUDASH, Oregon Director

Two would indicate incompetence. But what we’re talking about here is a pattern of arrogant behavior that clearly indicates One Oregon doesn’t believe it’s subject to the same disclosure laws everyone else is. And given how closely aligned some of the groups in Oregon are with the governor and her allies in Salem, it’s easy to see why they’d believe that. On its 2017 990 form filed with the Internal Revenue Service, Dudash noted, Our Oregon describes its “mission or most significant activities” as “Promot(ing) economic and social fairness by working in coalition on a broad range of issues and activities in the public arena.” However, other sources reveal that Our Oregon regularly describes its purpose in more nakedly political

Oregon Update

A closer look at the successes being achieved by the Freedom Foundation’s office in the Beaver State.

terms. In a Jan. 23 job posting for its political director, for example, the organization states: “Our Oregon is … dedicated to advancing economic and social justice for all Oregonians — with a focus on ballot measures.” Under a section in the posting titled “About Our Oregon,” the organization further characterizes itself as “Committed to winning elections. We know that winning and losing at the ballot box sends a signal, so we need a slam dunk every time.” One Oregon can obscure its true objectives with all the flowery language it wants, but that doesn’t alter the fact that it was created to be, and functions as, a political action committee. Campaign reporting requirements were adopted to remind Oregon voters that, behind political front groups with innocuous-sounding names like “One Oregon” lurk powerful special interests whose objectives may — or may not — be in the public interest. If you agree with the organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Democratic Socialists of America, that’s your right.But it’s also your right to know they’re helping to fund One Oregon — a fact the organization thinks many voters will be offended by or they wouldn’t work so hard to hide it.” And the subterfuge isn’t just for the sake of the general public. One Oregon is heavily involved with government employee unions like SEIU, AFSCME and the Oregon Education Association — whose leadership doesn’t want its own members to know how many of their dues dollars are spent playing partisan politics rather than advocating for better wages, benefits and working conditions. Oregon’s public disclosure laws are as clear as the reason they were adopted. And so is the fact that One Oregon has been violating them with impunity. The question is whether the state is going to apply them fairly or continue with its double standard.

Why are unions exempt from making sacrifices? — and their designated union keeps deducting dues from every paycheck.

By JASON DUDASH & MIKE NEARMAN Reprinted from the Salem Business Jounal

regonians from all walks of life are facing unprecedented times of economic uncertainty. However, not all hope is lost. Help is on the horizon. Earlier this week the United States Senate passed a historic $2 trillion federal stimulus package to combat the impending economic collapse caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. The bill includes a number of provisions intended to serve as critical tools to re-boot our economy, but almost certainly the most important of these is the checks being sent directly to individuals — $1,200 for single Americans, $2,400 for married couples and $500 to parents for each of their children. These checks will be a lifeline for many families who need it for rent, food and other basic necessities. And it will be a much-needed shot in the arm for small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy as a result of shelterin-place policies imposed by state and local governments. But Oregon can do even more. Gov. Kate Brown has a historic opportunity to supplement the federal dollars with millions worth of additional state aid — and it wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime. All she has to do is suspend union dues being deducted from government

employee paychecks for three months. According to UnionStats.com, there are more than 144,000 public employees in Oregon. The Freedom Foundation has assembled publicly available payroll data showing these workers pay an average of $800 annually in union dues. Consequently, suspending dues deductions for three months would give these workers and their families an additional $200 in takehome pay and pump nearly $29 million

into the state’s economy. Doubling the moratorium to six months would bring that total to almost $58 million. And no one disputes that everyone will need to make sacrifices in order to weather the storm ahead. The only question is whether “everyone” will include Kate Brown’s union friends. Under the current arrangement, they’re one of the very few entities not being hurt at all. Whether they remain on the job or not, public employees continue to be paid

And for what indispensable purpose is this money being used? Once dozens of union leaders pay themselves six-figure salaries, the overwhelming majority of the dues dollars are used for political lobbying and campaign contributions - like the $10,000 contribution the American Federation of Teachers Oregon Candidate PAC made to partisan recall effort of Senator Thomson just last week. U.S. Department of Labor data show the largest government unions in Oregon (OEA, SEIU, AFSCME, OSEA) currently have current cash reserves totaling over $21.3 million. With so much cash on hand, government unions in Oregon are in better shape than nearly all small businesses in the state. Why, other than favoritism, should this wealthy, powerful special interest continue its activities unfazed while the rest of the country — including the workers the union claims to represent — struggles to cope with the current emergency? Gov. Brown’s answer to that question will tell Oregonians all they need to know about her true priorities. State Rep. Mike Nearman (R-Independence) represents the Western Willamette Valley and is a Senior Fellow at the Freedom Foundation. Jason Dudash is the Oregon Director for the Freedom Foundation.

LIVING LIBERTY

A PUBLI CATION OF THE FREED OM FOU NDATION

Judge denies union motion to put lifeguards’ lawsuit on hold

UU.S. district court judge on April 10 brushed aside an attempt to deny justice by delaying a hearing for 22 California lifeguards seeking to exercise their First Amendment right to break ties with the labor union designated as their bargaining representative. The lifeguards — employed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation — believe the California State Law Enforcement Agency (CSLEA) has shown little interest in advocating on their behalf and have been trying to express their concerns by leaving the union. But the union has so far refused their requests, arguing they cannot opt out while it still has a collective bargaining agreement in place with their employer. CSLEA sought a stay in

By JEFF RHODES, Managing Editor

the case, Savas v. CSLEA, pending the outcome of a separate lawsuit being heard by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals — Cooley v. CSLEA — which also deals with socalled “maintenance of membership” provisions. But Judge Dana Sabraw, from the Southern District of California, denied the union’s motion, noting the “…(d) efendant has failed to prove either it will suffer hardship in the absence of a stay or that (the) plaintiffs will not suffer prejudice if a stay is imposed.” The lifeguards argue the maintenance of membership provision and state laws allowing them were both invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling

in Janus v. AFSCME, which classified mandatory union membership and dues for public employees as forced political speech — a violation of their constitutional rights. “The wording and intent of Janus are unambiguous,” said Mariah Gondeiro, litigation counsel with the Freedom Foundation, which is representing the lifeguards. “Government employees have the Constitutional right to decide for themselves whether they wish to associate with a union and support its activities. And that right can’t be

Temporary suspension of government union dues is an idea whose time has come By BOB WICKERS Reprinted from the California Globe April 14, 2014

he historic $2 trillion federal stimulus package to combat the economic collapse caused by the Coronavirus pandemic contains critical financial tools to re-boot our economy. Arguably, the most meaningful element of this deal is sending checks directly to individuals $1,200 for single Americans, $2,400 for married couples and $500 to parents for each of their children. These checks will be a lifeline for many families used to pay for rent, food, and other basic necessities. And it will be a much-needed shot in the arm for small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy as a result of shelter-in-place policies enforced by state and local governments. Just as President Trump and federal lawmakers found a way to put cash directly into the pockets of most Americans, Gov. Gavin Newsom has an opportunity to do the same for Californians. The governor can immediately help get this state’s economy moving again at no additional cost to taxpayers by suspending union dues collections from government employee paychecks for three months. According to UnionStats.com, there are more than 1.25 million public employees in California. My organization, the Freedom Foundation, has assembled publicly available payroll data showing these employees pay an average of $800 annually in union dues; therefore, suspending dues deductions for three months will give these workers and their families an additional $200 in take-home pay and pump over $250 million into the state’s economy. And doubling this dues-suspension to six months would inject a half billion dollars back into the Golden State.

watered down by state laws or language in an employment contract.” Had Judge Sabraw grant ed the union’s stay request, it would have imposed a significant burden on the plaintiffs, Gondeiro said. “If we had lost the motion, we would have had to wait potentially two years before we could do anything,” said said. “This would have been fatal. We would have lost all evidence and the facts would have grown stale. Unions have been able to do this all over the country. It’s a way for them to avoid getting to the merits.” CSLEA has 14 days to respond to the lawsuit, which also names California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Comptroller Betty Yee as co-defendants.

Spotlight on

California

With respected economists, academics, and major banks predicting California’s economy will be the hardest hit of all 50 states by the looming recession, Gov. Newsom can soften the blow by doing similarly what his federal counterpart has done put money directly into the hands of workers. Opponents of this proposal, primarily government unions and the politicians they control, will argue it’s unfair to ask unions to temporarily forego dues collections that it will harm them financially and curtail their ability to organize and advocate. But U.S. Department of Labor data reveals the top five unions representing California’s public employees (AFSCME, SEIU, CTA, CSEA, Teamsters) all of whom are private corporations currently have cash reserves totaling more than $270 million and annual revenue of over $605 million. With 45.6 percent of their yearly budget sitting in reserve, these unions are flush with cash and in better economic shape today than most small businesses in California; and, therefore, able to make this sacrifice. And is a government union an “essential” business that should be treated differently than any other? In addition to paying six-figure salaries to dozens of high-ranking union officials, the overwhelming majority of this money is spent lobbying for special legislation and funding campaigns of their favorite political candidates and causes. As small businesses across Californiaclose their doors and lay off employees,

A closer look at the successes being achieved by the Freedom Foundation’s office in the Golden State.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has a chance to take immediate action and help people in need. It’s been nearly a month since Newsom imposed shelter-in-place decrees for most workers; canceling virtually all public events and closing “non-essential” businesses. In issuing these orders, his public remarks have always been couched in language that stressed the need for everyone to share the pain in equal measure. Yet none of his orders had any effect whatsoever on government employee unions. Could this be because public-sector unions have spent decades quietly becoming the most influential special interest in California by donating generously to the campaigns of politicians like Gov. Newsom? Hardworking Californians need that money more than government unions do.

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A P U B LICAT ION O F T HE FR EED OM FOUNDAT ION

FREEDOM in ACTION

FAN MAIL “I work for the state and dropped out of the union last year — thanks to you. Thank you for all the hard work you do. My husband and I love you guys. “ – VICTORIA n

“People would not answer my questions about opting out within my work place, then I found your website, it’s fantastic. Thank you so much for your help and for what you do.” – DEE n

“Just wanted to let you know that my Local 1 affiliate of AFSCME has honored my requested for my membership termination. I sent the letter you helped with to the Local 1 office and my County HR. My next pay check showed no dues and fees being deducted. I will let you know if they go back on this. Thanks for the help and keep up the good work.” – DENNIS n

“Thank you for the work that your group is doing. Furthermore, thank you for making the process easy, you are helping many public employees and I know we all appreciate your dedication.” – JAY n

“I appreciate what you have done for me regarding the SEIU contract. I was overcharged every month, and I work so hard in order to pay my expenses every month.” – MARIA M.

“Thank you for giving public employees a voice and for putting my best interests first. Your organization is appreciated and I’m very thankful.” – EVELYN

Nation’s governors must take action now to mitigate effects of recent economic shutdown By AARON WITHE Reprinted from RED STATE March 24, 2020

n an effort to contain the spread of the COVID 19 virus, governors are imposing harsh measures that are dramatically impacting our economy and jobs. While well-intentioned, these actions are devastating our nation’s economy and working families. Our nation’s leaders are now starting to take steps to provide economic relief, but to the tune of trillions of dollars that will ultimately be paid by our country’s hardworking taxpayers. More can and should be done, which is why the Freedom Foundation is calling on governors across the country to immediately implement a three-month suspension on dues collections from public employee paychecks. Political discourse often rails against wealthy corporations to pitch in and do their “fair share.” Well, big government unions are wealthy. Small businesses and working families are disproportionately shouldering the burden of the economic shutdown. It’s time for our nation’s rich, public-sector unions to do their part to help carry the load. Across the country, government unions take between 1.5 and 2.5 percent of public employee paychecks for membership dues. In Washington, Oregon, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where the Freedom Foundation has in-state

operations, the average annual dues are approximately $800. Stopping the dues collection for three months would put more than $460 million back in the pockets of first responders and other public-sector workers at no additional cost to the taxpayer. Governors must cease these deductions, just as they’ve shut down businesses in practically every sector. Just watch what happens when workers are able to keep more of their own hard-earned dollars. The domino effect will be powerful in helping individuals and small businesses. Every monthly dues deduction unions pull out of a taxpayer-funded paycheck is a tank of gas, or a week’s worth of groceries, or a needed medical prescription. And over the course of three months, it could be the difference in making that mortgage payment if a spouse in the private sector lost their job. It’s temporary; it’s not forever. Right now, the American people want and need to be able to work and keep as much of their money as possible. Government employee unions are sitting on millions of dollars in their coffers, while millions of Americans are worrying over their dwindling bank accounts. The Washington Federation of State Employees has more

than $10.4 million in savings on hand, and the Washington Education Association has more than $15.5 million. In Oregon, the state school employee union has nearly $4.3 million in its cash reserves while the teachers’ union has more than $10 million. The California School Employees Association has in excess of $46.7 million in cash reserves, while the Teachers Association has amassed almost $90 million. The Ohio Civil Service Employees Association has $17.4 million, and the Ohio Education Association has over $13 million socked away. In Pennsylvania, the state education association is sitting on cash reserves of $63.4 million, and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania has more than $9 million. Rich government unions can afford three months without dipping into peoples’ paychecks. Governors should now take every action possible to soften the economic blow from the shut-down. And, unlike most government solutions to a problem, it’s free. It won’t cost taxpayers a dime. Aaron Withe is the national director for the Freedom Foundation, a free-market organization committed to helping free public sector employees from union tyranny.

LIVING LIBERTY

A PUBL ICAT ION OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION

FREEDOM in the NEWS IN PRINT

March 9, 2020

Legislature OKs carve-out for media on birth date disclosure “In a 5-4 ruling, the court said there was no statutory or constitutional allowance that would preclude the release of such information. The fight over access to employee birth dates stems from a 2016 request from the Freedom Foundation, a conservative group that had been seeking disclosure of records of union-represented employees, so it could contact them as part of its effort to reduce the size and influence of public-sector unions. Several unions sought to stop the release of IN PRINT

March 10, 2020

ONLINE

April 1, 2020

Lawsuits allege unions used forgery to gain members, dues “We’ve seen them be very aggressive — employing coercive tactics, employing deceptive tactics, and now even forging signatures on forms to try to continue that dues collection,” said Maxford Nelsen with the Freedom Foundation.

ONLINE

April 15, 2020

Media should not be the exception in date-of-birth records access “This action stems from a 2016 case where the Freedom Foundation “filed a public records request several years ago for the names, work email addresses and dates of birth of all state employees who are eligible to be in the unions; that would enable the foundation to send them information about why they might

Free-market group calls on California, other states to suspend government union Dues “A three-month moratorium on deduction of government union dues ‘would pump $250 million back into the pockets of workers who earned them and need them during this emergency,’ Bob Wickers, California director for the Freedom Foundation, said in the letter to Newsom. ‘The best part is you could boost our state’s economy by nearly $250 million without costing California taxpayers a dime,’ he wrote.”

IN MEMORIAM

Tamen Miller, 35, Freedom Foundation outreach cannvasser Tamen Miller, a Freedom Foundation canvasser, died in Olympia on April 10, 2020. He was 35 and, like many Americans suffering from severe depression, had great difficulty dealing with the ongoing Coronavirus lockdown. When he could deal with it no longer, he took his life. He grew up in North Newton, Newton, and Wichita, Kansas. He started college at Wichita State University when he was 16 years old. At the time, he was the youngest pledge president in the history of national Kappa Sigma fraternity. On the National Student Exchange

Income Tax Continued from page 1

a tax on income as property. However, it also recognized that Seattle’s ordinance was unconstitutional because it taxed income unevenly. The Economic Opportunity Institute — a far-left “think tank” that had been allowed to join the city’s legal defense of the income tax — declared it was “elated” by the decision. And why not? Funded largely by public-sector unions whose wealth and influence grows exponentially with every new government employee hired, the group

Program, he studied one semester at California State University-Chico. Tamen graduated from The Evergreen State College with a B.A. with an emphasis in education and economics in 2012. Tamen served in AmeriCorps

fully expected the Supreme Court to ignore the state constitution, decades worth of legal precedent and the repeatedly expressed will of voters, thus opening the door to an income tax that could first be used to punish on Seattle’s most successful residents, then imposed statewide. But on April 3, the Supreme Court denied the city’s appeal, effectively refusing to reverse its prior decisions. Holmes acknowledged the ruling marked “the end of the road for this piece of legislation.” Some tax advocates have already called on Seattle to adopt a flat income tax that would pass court muster, and Mayor Jenny Durkan — who would much prefer a version that re-

(Corporation for National and Community Service) as a reading tutor in Omak, Washington and Fort Collins, Colo. He loved teaching children to read, play chess and basketball. He was a former volunteer at Stand Up For Kids, a nonprofit organization in Olympia that helps homeless youth get on their feet. Tamen was the author of, “My So Called Digital Life” a satirical book about online social media. He also was active in legalizing marijuana in Washington State and was chair of the public relations committee for a major political party in Thurston County. Tamen was a kind and gentle soul who loved God, people and animals. Tamen is survived by his parents Vincent and Priscilla Miller, 11 aunts and uncles, and 44 cousins. Service details for Tamen are to be determined for a later date.

wards her political allies and punishes those who hold views with which she disagrees — has nonetheless expressed openness to the idea, if only as a way to keep her income tax dreams alive. Government unions and other special interests care more about enriching themselves by growing government and increasing taxes than they do about who pays. And they’ll never give up trying to corrupt the system with someone else’s money. Fortunately for tax-weary Washingtonians navigating the economic catastrophe wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the forces of freedom, fairness and economic growth have once again shown themselves to be at least as persistent.

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A P U BL IC AT I ON OF T HE FREEDOM FOUNDAT I ON

ACTION TIMELINE SPOTLIGHTING SOME OF THE FREEDOM FOUNDATION’S NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST MONTH March 27 With millions of small businesses closed down and American workers idled by the ongoing Coronavirus quarantine, the Freedom Foundation sends letters to the governors of all five states in which it operates calling for a temporary, three-month suspension of dues collected by government employee unions. Not surprisingly, unions were highly critical of any suggestion that they share the rest of the nation’s pain.

five where they were caught red-handed forging the signatures of workers onto membership cards in order to continue collecting dues payments from people who don’t share the union’s ideals and only wish to be left alone. In all, that makes 12 forgery cases the Freedom Foundation has filed against public-sector unions — with more expected in the next few weeks. April 10

The Washington State Supreme Court denies Seattle’s bid to reinstate an income tax on wealthy households, declining to hear the city’s case and dealing a major blow to advocates for a statewide income tax. In a majority decision, the Supreme Court on declined to review the city’s request to overturn rulings against the tax by a King County Superior Court judge and the state Court of Appeals. The Freedom Foundation, representing a collection of Seattle residents affected by the proposed tax, was among the first to file a lawsuit challenging it.

A U.S. district court judge brushes aside an attempt by the California State Law Enforcement Agency (CSLEA) to deny justice for 22 California lifeguards seeking to exercise their First Amendment right and break ties with their union. The lifeguards — employed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and represented in court by the Freedom Foundation — believe CSLEA cannot be trusted to advocate impartially and vigorously on their behalf. They have been trying to leave the union since the summer of 2019, but the union has so far refused their requests, insisting they cannot opt out until 2023 because of a maintenance of membership provision in their collective bargaining agreement.

April 7

April 13

The Freedom Foundation files six separate lawsuits against government unions, including

The Freedom Foundation files a complaint against Our Oregon, a political committee front-

April 3

BY THE NUMBERS April 7 wasn’t a good day for SEIU 925. Thirteen University of Washington employees, represented by the union chose freedom that day and opted out thanks to the Freedom Foundation. n

SEIU 1021 drops nearly 1,250 dues paying workers in San Joaquin County, Calif. This total represents 25 percent of SEIU’s unionized public employee workforce in San Joaquin County government. The Freedom Foundation has sent email and mail to these employees and for the past year focused canvassing efforts outside San Joaquin County government buildings.

ing for a coalition of ultra-liberal agencies and organizations, alleging it failed to follow the state’s financial disclosure requirements. The complaint notes that, “On at least nine separate occasions during the year 2020, and for many years prior, Our Oregon has operated as a political committee without filing a statement of organization with the Secretary of State as required by (state law).” “One incident like this is a mistake,” said Freedom Foundation Oregon Director Jason Dudash. “Two would indicate incompetence. But this is is a pattern of arrogant behavior that clearly indicates Our Oregon doesn’t believe it’s subject to the same disclosure laws everyone else is.”

Essential? Now more than ever. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on March 22 responded to the Coronavirus pandemic by imposing a temporary stay-at-home order on Washington residents and thousands of businesses deemed “nonessential” by the governor’s advisors. In April, it was extended to May 4. Among those granted an exemption from the edict, however, were SEIU, WFSE, the Washington Education Association and every other union claiming to represent the state’s myriad government employees. While countless Washingtonians lost their livelihoods with the stroke of an Olympia bureaucrat’s pen, the state’s wealthiest and most powerful special interests were allowed to continue confiscating dues as though nothing had happened. But it turns out the same loophole created for “unions and labor advocates” can also be applied to the Freedom Foundation — without a doubt the state of Washington’s premier advocate for worker freedom. We’re still here. Whether from home or the office, the Freedom Foundation is on the job every day performing its “essential” mission. And, thanks to supporters like you, we’ll still be making life miserable for Gov. Inslee and his union cronies long after history concludes they’re the ones who are truly nonessential.