Political Agenda: Appeals court decision puts the pinch on AEA

Alabama Education Association logo.jpg

(The Political Agenda is a weekday wrap-up of political news and analysis in Alabama. Know of something that needs to be on the agenda? Write us and let us know.)

There once was a lumber company I'm familiar with in south Alabama that, years ago, had a way of keeping unions out of its mills. Rather than taking dues out of employees' paychecks -- as the union wanted -- the owners would set up a small table next to where the employees came each week to pick up their checks. There, if the employees wanted, they could pay their dues to the union, if they wanted.

There was a subtle psychology to the tactic. Once that money is in your pocket, it's just a little bit harder to take it back out again, and that small difference was just enough to keep the union at bay.

Three years ago, Alabama Republicans tried a similar variation on that trick, passing a law that would prohibit the state from processing union dues through payroll reductions.

It might seem like a small thing, but consider how hard the Alabama Education Association and others have fought against the ban, and you'll understand how serious it might be for them.

AEA sued the state and tied up the new law in court for three years. The Alabama State Employees Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters later joined the lawsuit.

On Wednesday, the 11th Circuit Court of appeals overturned an earlier court ruling that found the state's new law to be too vague. The more recent decision leaves the future of the AEA, once among the state's most powerful special interest groups, in question.

In other business ...

State Sen. Billy Beasley thought a lot about running for governor, but then thought better of it.

Congressional candidate Will Brooke says his donations to Democrats don't mean he's not a Republican.  

State Sen. Tammy Irons joins the list of incumbents who won't be running for reelection this year.

State Sen. Bryan Taylor scaled back his bill that would require welfare recipients to perform public service work.