Back to

Amendment 49:

Limitation on Government Paycheck Deductions

Summary

Amendment 49 would block state and local government agencies from automatically deducting dues and fees from employees paychecks for labor unions and other taxable organizations.

This measure applies to all public employers in Colorado, including the state, counties, municipalities, school districts and special districts

Currently, Arapahoe and Douglas counties have a prohibition similar to Amendment 49 in place.

Position:  Vote YES

Blue Book:   Complete text of Amendment 49 (pdf)

Provided by: Legislative Council of the Colorado General Assembly

Amendment 49 proposes amending the Colorado Constitution to:

• prohibit any public employee paycheck deduction, except for:
  

Amendment 49 reduces the potential for conflicts of interest that can occur when elected officials permit the use of government payroll systems to collect money for politically active groups, such as labor unions.

In this day and age of high taxes and low ethical standards, it seems best that the practice of the government providing a free dues collection service for unions would end. Anti-family positions that lobbyists advance such as abortion on demand and homosexual marriage are funded, in part, through these union dues.

A public employee can contribute to any organization using automatic withdrawals from a private bank. This measure will eliminate an unnecessary government function.

RMFC position:

VOTE XX

Vote NO

RMFC position:

Vote YES

• deductions required by federal law;
  

• tax withholdings;
  

• court-ordered liens and garnishments;
  

• health benefit and other insurance deductions;
  

• deductions for savings, investment, and retirement plans; and
  

• deductions for charitable, religious, educational, and other
  

• tax-exempt organizations.