Union vows biggest political fight ever in Nevada

In a vote that could set the tone for the rest of the country, Californians cast ballots Tuesday on a measure that could limit the ability of labor unions to collect dues for political purposes.

National forces on both sides of the issue say the vote will be a barometer for similar initiatives in the rest of the country. But both sides of the ballot question in Nevada are downplaying the importance of the California vote. A petition drive is under way to get the matter on November's ballot in Nevada.

Proposition 226 would require unions to get permission from each member before making paycheck deductions that would go to political causes. Backers say it's an issue of fairness -- workers shouldn't be forced to give their money to candidates or causes they do not support. Opponents say the measure is an attempt to silence the voice of working people in the political process.

"I think it has really started a national debate on the importance of letting them participate in the political process as they see fit," said Republican National Committee spokesman Tim Fitzgerald. "I think it will pass."

The measure has the backing of conservative, GOP-aligned groups. Millions of dollars have been poured in to fight the issue on both sides. Union forces want a victory in California to cool any momentum the effort may have in the rest of the country.

"If we do win Tuesday, we think we'll put a damper on the paycheck deception scheme," said Naomi Walkers, spokeswoman for the AFL-CIO.

A poll released Friday by the Field Institute shows about 45 percent of California voters favor the measure while 47 percent oppose it and 8 percent are undecided. That's a drastic contrast to earlier this year when polls showed the initiative had a 71 percent approval rating.

But while national voices say California could set the tone, local voices say Nevadans aren't likely to be swayed by the vote in the neighbor state.

"Even if it doesn't pass in California, it doesn't mean it won't pass everywhere else," said Charles Muth, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, which is trying to get the matter on the ballot in Nevada. "Having said that, obviously if it passes in California it's a big boon for us."

Nevada AFL-CIO chief Blackie Evans said he was unsure what effect the California vote would have here. "You might see some trends, but each state is pretty much independent. I don't think Nevada is known for following others," he said.

Conservative forces from the East along with California Gov. Pete Wilson have funded the effort to get the proposition passed in the Golden State, and that has Culinary Union political action director Glen Arnodo concerned.

Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform donated more than $400,000 in support of the measure. Supporters of the initiative had raised $7.8 million by mid-March, according to reports on file with the California secretary of state.

"If they are successful in California, those right wing zealots could move their resources to Nevada," Arnodo said.

Opponents of the measure had raised $11.1 million by mid-March, and supporters of the measure charge unions will dump closer to $20 million into the campaign.

While the forces behind these initiatives maintain the issue is one of fairness to workers, there's little question the flow of union money to Democratic candidates in 1996 sparked the conservative effort. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, unions raised $47.5 million for political action committees, candidates and parties in 1992. That amount increased to about $58.7 million in 1996, with about 93 percent of that going to Democrats. By contrast, businesses donated about $653 million in 1996, according to the CFRP.

"What happened in '96 was like a wake-up call," Muth said. "(AFL-CIO President John) Sweeney was so partisan in '96, it was like waving a red flag in front of a bull."

Said Arnodo: "I think in '96 labor asserted itself in a way it hasn't for a very long time."

Yet at the same time both say they don't see the situation in Nevada as a partisan issue. Muth said his polling shows many Democrats support the measure. Arnodo views it in part as an ideological war funded by Venetian hotel-casino developer Sheldon Adelson.

"I think when you get to Nevada the forces change drastically," Arnodo said. "He (Adelson) has some idealized reason to back it."

Adelson could not be reached for comment.

Muth and the Liberty Caucus have until June 16 to gain the roughly 46,700 signatures required to get the matter on the ballot. Both sides expect a contentious campaign should that happen.

"We intend to mount the biggest political campaign ever in the state of Nevada," Arnodo said.

Muth is well aware of that. "We just have to be ready for a negative campaign," he said.

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