Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon (D) vetoed a paycheck deception bill, saying the bill targeted a single group of employees and would have placed an undue burden on them. The legislation would've required that employees provide, on an annual basis, a written authorization for both withholding of union dues and for the authorization of the use of that money for political purposes.

Nixon said numerous other deductions are allowed under current law, including college savings accounts and 401(k) plans, and there was no beneficial purpose of the new legislation.

The bill places unnecessary burdens on public employees for the purpose of weakening labor organizations.

In a press release, the We Are Missouri coalition, key supporters of the state's working families, applauded Nixon's veto. Hugh McVey, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, spoke on behalf of the coalition:

With today’s veto, Gov. Nixon stood up for the basic rights of Missouri’s everyday heroes—the people who work every day to keep our state working. Nurses, teachers, police officers and countless other middle-class Missourians would have lost their voice on the job if this unfair and dangerous paycheck deception bill were to become law. We are grateful that Gov. Nixon stands as a firewall against the extremist agenda that would unfairly take rights away from workers and seeks to lower wages in our state. He joins the courageous legislators in both parties who sided with working people despite pressure from out-of-state special interest groups.

Missouri voters were particularly active in their opposition to the bill, with thousands volunteering to make phone calls, send e-mails and meet with legislators to stop the bill. We Are Missouri pointed to the undue influence of corporate special interests and conservative groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council and Americans for Prosperity in the passage of the bill.

Working America, the AFL-CIO's community affiliate, has more.