Protecting Missouri Workers
Policy Pulse has posted a new article about the Employee Free Choice Act by staff reporter Audrey Spalding. Instead of directly combating the act in Congress, a group of Missouri politicians and business leaders rallied in favor of an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that aims to preserve the secret ballot for union representation. Read Audrey’s article for more information on the topic!
The business community are the biggest bunch of hypocrites when they posture about protecting secret ballot voting. The Chamber of Commerce and businesses promote Community Improvement Districts that impose sales taxes on citizens without a vote for private benefit. Whatever happened to the Hancock Admendment?
Comment by southkc — July 16, 2009 @ 8:40 p.m.
Southkc,
I agree with you that the Community Improvement Districts are a shady way to avoid the Hancock Amendment. But from what I can tell, they probably do pass Constitutional muster. CIDs, by design, only incorporate a small part of any given city, and only the businesses and residents in that limited area will be subject to a tax passed for the CID. The truth of the matter is that many businesses will be happy to accept the tax because they can just pass on this cost to the consumers if they think it won’t otherwise hurt their bottom-line. Since the occupants of the CID approve the new taxes, the letter of the Hancock Amendment is probably satisfied, even if the spirit of it is ignored.
My thoughts in this regard are similar to my thoughts on Home Owners’ Associations and the quasi-governmental powers they weild — the best solution is avoidance or (if you want to use this terminology) boycott. If you oppose the use of CIDs or if you don’t like Home Owners’ Associations, make a point of taking your business or your residence elsewhere. If enough people take a stand against these heavy-handed mechanisms, you’ll start to see fewer and fewer of them.
Comment by Dave Roland — July 20, 2009 @ 2:20 p.m.
Most people do not know they are paying CID sales tax that only benefits private business. In Kansas City over $3 million in sales tax is being diverted to private business interest. This abuse is growing with no oversight.
Comment by southkc — July 21, 2009 @ 10:51 p.m.