Highlights: NH House Passes Voter Suppression Bill as Two GOP Leaders Protest Anti-Worker Measures; Maine workers turn out in opposition of Right to Work; OH: Ohio's key budget cuts some of biggest in nation; Sneaky Ohio Budget Amendment May Result in Fewer Individuals Being Subject to the Minimum Wage; AL Lawmakers vote to increase retirement costs for teachers, state employees; full Scrooge Alert at http://dailyscroogealert.blogspot.com/

National

Vouchers: They're Baaaaaack!
The Nation.
... the collective bargaining rights of teachers and other public sector unions, ... Florida, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania—providing funding for vouchers, ...

Maine

Hundreds of Maine Workers Protest "Right to Work" Bill
MPBN News
And that means it's good for small business like mine--which Maine is full of." Meanwhile, as an amended version of LD 309 was being prepared for a public hearing, Republicans killed LD 788, a right-to-work bill that affected union workers in private ...

Union workers rally against "right to work" legislation

Unions protest bill

Union members crowd State House to oppose bill

Union advocates say amended right-to-work bill has insidious consequences

Foes gather against bill on union fees

A spirited pro-union rally preceded a tense public hearing Thursday on a bill that would limit the ability of unions to collect fees from nonunion state workers.

Testimony heard on contentious union fees bill

Public testimony on a bill that would alter how public employees unions collect fees from nonmembers lasted well into Thursday night as supporters and opponents argued over the contentious legislation.

Ohio

Sneaky Ohio Budget Amendment May Result in Fewer Individuals Being Subject to the Minimum Wage

Unions Fight Against New Law
Wheeling Intelligencer
... The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register WHEELING - Organizers say more than 1000 signatures have been gathered in Belmont County as part of an effort to overturn legislation that limits collective bargaining for public employees in Ohio.

OH: Ohio's key budget cuts some of biggest in nation
Ohioans are seeing some of the biggest planned budget cuts in the nation for key areas such as education and prisons, a new report released yesterday shows.

Ohio Senate debates teacher merit pay
Columbus Dispatch
The proposal was similar to language included in Senate Bill 5, the new law that also significantly weakens collective bargaining powers for public workers. A coalition of union supporters is expected to challenge the law on the November ballot, .

Pennsylvania

Vouchers: They're Baaaaaack!
The Nation.
... the collective bargaining rights of teachers and other public sector unions, ... Florida, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania—providing funding for vouchers, ...

Alabama

Lawmakers vote to increase retirement costs for teachers, state employees

State employees and teachers should expect to begin paying more into their retirement on Oct. 1.

Montana

MT: Governor says votes to override vetoes fall short
Gov. Brian Schweitzer said a tally of lawmakers show there won't be enough votes to override any of his vetoes.

Texas

On school funding, 'no guarantees' anymore

A long-standing pact between the State of Texas and its public schools could soon be null and void. For about 60 years, Texas lawmakers have afforded public education a special status in terms of state funding.