I agree with the May 27 editorial “Open the doors” to the public on the bartering over tax dollars between state officials in the executive branch with government unions. Many think unions are all the same. One difference is what is being bartered; profit in the private sector, taxes in the government.
Rep. Jim Moeller’s, D-Vancouver, online comments to the opinion is telling: “The public would know what each group is thinking! Keep the current system, exercise your ‘right to know’ in the ballot box and tell the papers to go fly a kite!”
Each group he refers to are appointees of the governor, a Democrat, and government unions that supported their elections and recounts.
Moeller announced his candidacy for Congress as a Democrat at a Labor Round Table meeting and is endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council. If a long-term union-backed elected official freely makes such statements, imagine what happens in secret. The Columbian needs to move from an opinion to action with reports describing the government unions of the state, county, municipalities and schools.
Employers track hours of work, deduct dues or fees, then forward that money to unions. They also pay workers who attend to union interests. Taxpayers need to know how much money subsidizes government unions with “corporate welfare.”
